LAKE TSAGAN-NOR. 239 



yuan-ing (Wei-tching-pu) alone escaped this fate ; it 

 is the residence of the ruling prince, and lies to the 

 west of the Ala-shan mountains. 



To this place we proceeded after leaving Ding-hu. 

 However, after one day's march we halted for three 

 days at the yurta of our friend the Mongol zanghin. 

 Of him луе purchased a camel and exchanged two 

 of our own which had sore backs ; we were also 

 obliged to halt to rest the sick Cossack who fortu- 

 nately soon recovered. Our former guide, Djuldjig, 

 was left behind at Ding-hu, and in his stead, with 

 the assistance of the same zanghin, we hired an- 

 other one, who, although a Mongol, was a Mahom- 

 medan and an excellent fellow. He accompanied us 

 to Din-yuan-ing, which is 125 miles from Bautu. 

 The road is a mere track almost obliterated in places, 

 and one must know the country well not to lose 

 oneself. We saw no inhabitants, but Avells are dug 

 at intervals of 16 or 20 miles, and postal yurtas are 

 stationed near them. 



On the second day's march we passed a small 

 lake, Tsagan-nor, and close beside it a spring of 

 pure cold water — a rare sight in these countries. 

 Two large willows sheltered the spot, which the 

 Mongols held sacred. We луеге greatly rejoiced at 

 this discovery, not having tasted good water for more 

 than a month, and therefore determined to halt. 



The limpid streams from the well only flow for 

 a few dozen paces, but the plot of ground which 

 they water is bright green covered with such grass 

 as can be found nowhere in the desert. 



