196 DESERT OF GOBI. 



persons of distinction. As for those who had no 

 cups, some of the tea was poured into their hands. 

 Prizes were then distributed. The first wrestler 

 received for his reward a fowling piece, a cuirass, 

 15 oxen and cows, 15 horses, 100 sheep, a camel, 

 1000 bricks of tea, some pieces of satin, and several 

 fox and otter skins. The others received presents 

 proportional to their strength and agility. A similar 

 feast is celebrated every year by the Mongols, who 

 assemble near one of the obas of their horde.* 



The road to Hi, the place of banishment for 

 Chinese criminals, is through Hami. Within the 

 Great Wall, or China Proper, the road is divided 

 off into stages of 100 ly ; but without the Great 

 Wall, and especially in crossing the sandy and 

 flinty desert of Gobi, the stages are irregular, ex- 

 tending to distances of 120 and 140 ly, in conse- 

 quence of the scarcity of water. Small inns are 

 established at intermediate stations, wherever water 

 can be procured on the spot, or from a distance of 

 a few leagues, and tea may be obtained at any 

 hour of the night ; for during the summer the 

 Chinese, in consequence of the scorching heat of 

 this desert, travel by night, and rest during the 

 day.f 



In Tibet, Moorcroft informs us, that all classes 

 of Tibetans eat three meals a day : the first con- 

 sists of tea ; the second of tea, or of meal porridge, 



* 



Embassy to Peking, vol. i. pp. 101. to 105. 

 •f" Portuguese MS. in my possession. 



