SPORT ON THE PLATEx\UX 323 



to Europe, where they are dyed and sold as imitation 

 sable. The wool is purchased from the natives for 

 3 to 4 roubles per poud (36 lb.) or the equivalent in 

 kine, and sold later for double that amount. The 

 trade is largely in the hands of the Chinese, who sell 

 to the Russian merchants, which minimizes the profits 

 of the latter. However, Russia has already inserted 

 " the thin end of the wedge " in Mongolia, and with 

 the new state of affairs the entire trade of this vast 

 country will fall into the hands of Russia. 



Properly administered, there is no reason why this 

 ideal grazing country should not become one of the 

 leading stock-rearing countries of the world. If a 

 branch line to Kobdo, from the proposed Kiakhta- 

 Kalgan railway, is built, the whole of North-west Mongolia 

 will be brought within rail-communication of the European 

 market, and this land of great possibilities will have 

 received the stimulus it requires. There is every likeli- 

 hood of this line some day being continued through 

 to Tomsk, via the thriving town of Biisk, engineers 

 having pronounced the Altai highlands to present no 

 serious engineering difficulties. 



Having changed our mixed caravan of oxen and 

 horses for eight camels, on August 28th we started 

 again for the frontier post of Suok, hoping there to get 

 hold of some hunters. A march of six hours took us 

 out of the Achit plain, well up into the foot-hills of the 

 Altai. Marching up a dry water-course, we were struck 

 by the arid nature of the hills. Above the valley 

 bottom, where there was a little scrub and coarse grass, 

 the hillsides were entirely devoid of growth, with the 

 exception of the ubiquitous " burtsa " — a small bush, 

 which when dry makes excellent fuel. On the following 



