START FROM KALGAN. 133 



were the motives which impelled us onwards at all 

 hazards, regardless of probabilities or possibilities. 



At Kalgan we reformed our caravan. Two new 

 Cossacks appointed to our expedition joined us here, 

 and our former companions returned home. One of the 

 new Cossacks was a Buriat, the other a Russian ; the 

 former was to act as interpreter, the latter as steward. 

 They had also to assist us in loading and pasturing 

 the camels, saddling the horses, pitching the tent, col- 

 lecting argols for fuel, &c. &c.,all which formed part 

 of every day's work, and became the more burden- 

 some as it encroached on the time available for 

 scientific pursuits. However, it was impossible to 

 arrange differently, because, as I have already ex- 

 plained, I could not afford to take more than two 

 Cossacks, and the services of a Chinese or Mongol 

 were unobtainable at any price. 



The number of our pack-camels was increased 

 by the purchase of a new one, making altogether 

 eight camels, and two horses. Mr. Pyltseff and I rode 

 the latter, the Cossacks bestrode two camels, and the 

 remaining six carried our baggage, which, I should 

 think, weighed about 16^ cwts. ; the setter dog, 

 ' Faust,' completed our small caravan. 



When all our preparations were concluded, my 

 friend and I despatched our last letters home, and on 

 the 15th May once more mounted the plateau of 

 Mongolia. The following day we turned off the 

 Kiakhta road to the left, taking a westerly direction 

 by the post road to Kuku-khoto. For three days we 

 travelled over an uneven plain occupied by encamp- 



