THE SECOND VOLUME. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



RETURN TO ALA-SHAN. ROUTE TO URGA BY THE CENTRAL 



GOBI. 



PAGE 



Departure from Ala-shan — Nearly lost in the desert — A dilemma 

 — We follow the wrong road — A night of suspense — Looking 

 for landmarks — The ' Obo ' — Water at last ! — Meeting with 

 pilgrims — Din-yuan-ing — Letters from home — Excursion to 

 Ala-shan mountains — Their changed appearance — Their flora 

 and fauna — Sudden flood — Collections endangered — Caravan 

 re-organised — Start for Urga — Terrible heat — Guide at fault — 

 — Death of ' Faust ' — Desperate situation — Saved — Grief at the 

 loss of our dog — Route across the Gobi — Urute country — The 

 Galpin Gobi — Wells choked by rain — Similarity between Gobi 

 and Sahara — The Hurku range — Mountain goat {Capra 

 Sibiricd) — Trade routes — The desert north of the Hurku — 

 Shortlived oases — Large and flourishing herds — Polluted water 

 ■ — The mirage — Migration of birds — More trade routes — Altered 

 aspect of country — Rich pasturage — Abundance of animal life 

 — Climate — Impatience to reach Urga — Arrival there — End of 

 the expedition 254 



TABLE OF NOTES TO VOLUME II. 



NOTES BY MR. MORGAN. 

 Urumchi 285 



The Rhubarb Plant 



291 



The Manul ........... 298 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES BY COL. YULE. 



The Taldi 299 



Siling and Tonkir 300 



The Kyang and Kulan 301 



The Tangutans . ib. 



The Dungans ■ 304 



