loo ROAD TO KOKO-NOR. 



not appear. The third day was a repetition of the 

 two preceding, and the inhabitants of Chobsen, 

 taking courage, drove their cattle out of the enclo- 

 sure of the temple, and allowed them to graze near 

 our camp. 



Such is the moral superiority of the European 

 over the degraded inhabitants of Asia ; such the 

 impression produced by the resolution, energy, and 

 unwavering courage of a superior race. 



We remained at Chobsen for six days exposed 

 to unavoidable danger, which in the end opened to 

 us a way to Lake Koko-nor. 



The direct road to the lake passes through the 

 towns of Seng-kwan ^ and Tonkir, by which it takes 

 five days to reach its shores ; but, owing to the occu- 

 pation of Seng-kwan by Dungans, we had to abandon 

 this route for some other more practicable. We 

 fortunately succeeded in finding one. 



On the third day of our halt three Mongols 

 arrived at Chobsen from the banner of Mur-zasak, 

 near the sources of the Tatung, having driven a 

 flock of sheep, under cover of the night, over the 

 mountains for sale. These men were obliged to 

 return home soon and might serve as excellent 

 guides for us, if we could induce them to accept our 

 offers. With this view I addressed myself to our 

 friend the treasurer of the temple, giving him a 

 handsome present. Moved by this bribe, the lama 

 persuaded the newly-arrived Mongols to act as our 



' The local Mongol name of this town is Mu-paishinta. 



