242 DIN-YUAN-ING, AND THE PRINCE. 



vince of Kan-su. The Chinese call this town Wa- 

 yang-pu, and the Mongols Alasha-yamen, i.e. place 

 of government of Ala-shan. 



Din-yuan-ing consists of a fortress with a mud 

 wall a mile in circumference. At the time of our 

 visit this wall was prepared to withstand a- siege, and 

 we could see stones and beams laid on the battle- 

 ments in readiness for the enemy's attack. In front 

 of the principal wall on the northern side three small 

 mud forts were built surrounded with a palisade. 



The prince himself lives within the fortress, 

 where some Chinese shops and the barracks of the 

 Mongol soldiery are situated. Outside the principal 

 barrier several hundred houses formerly stood, but 

 they were all destroyed by the Dungans, who were, 

 however, unable to take the fortress. Everything 

 outside the wall was destroyed, including the 

 suburban palace of the prince, two-thirds of a mile 

 from the town, standing in a small park. This park, 

 which formerly contained ponds with water, looks 

 like enchanted ground in comparison with the sur- 

 rounding wilderness. 



Such is the external appearance of the town of 

 Din-yuan-ing. Let us now describe its inhabitants. 



The most remarkable personage among them is 

 of course the ruling prince, or, as he is called here, 

 the ' Amban.'^ He ranks in the second class of 



Polo's district of Tangut called Egrigaya, of which the capital was 

 called Calachan. This place is also mentioned by Rashiduddin as 

 Khalajdti, one of the cities of Tangut. — Y.] 



' We could not ascertain the name of this prince because the 

 Mongols consider it wrong to mention the names of their chiefs, and 

 still worse to tell them to any stranger. 



