278 THE CENTRAL GOBI. 



moisture and withers the grass, trampled under foot 

 by the enormous herds of cattle ; the Mongols de- 

 part ; the dzerens seek other pastures ; the larks 

 fly away ; and the desert remains as silent as the 

 grave. 



The elevation of the Gobi between the Hurku 

 hills and Uro-a along- our line of march nowhere 



о о 



exceeds 5,500 feet, nor falls below 4,000. No de- 

 pressions occur in this tract, like those of Djaratai- 

 dabas and the Galpin Gobi, or that along the Kiakhta- 

 Kalgan road ; the whole region is a lofty plateau, 

 varying in height between these two extremes. 



The Central Gobi, like the other parts of this 

 desert, is absolutely wanting in irrigation ; even 

 wells are fewer than in the tract south of the Hurku ; 

 yet such as there are, the nomads depend entirely 

 for their supply of water in summer on them, and on 

 the temporary lakes formed after heavy rains, and re- 

 tained on the surface of the hard clay, while in winter 

 they satisfy their wants with snow, removing at that 

 season to pastures which have been left untouched 

 during summer on account of the absence of water. 



The population of the Central Gobi, as in general 

 throughout the Khalka country, is numerous and 

 well to do. Enormous flocks of sheep roam near the 

 encampments ; camels, horses, and horned cattle in 

 smaller numbers. Towards the end of summer all 

 these animals become remarkably fat, a surprising 

 circumstance if the scanty pasturage be considered. 

 I think their good condition is mainly attributable to 

 the freedom they enjoy, and also to the absence of 



