THE KIREI OF THE ALTAI 359 



The Western branch of the Kirei are distributed 

 along the Russo-Chinese frontier of Dzungaria, and 

 range into the territory belonging to both nations ; 

 the Tarbagatai, Sair, BarUk, and Maili ranges forming 

 their headquarters. Some are Russian subjects, others 

 are Chinese, but all move freely, regardless of the de- 

 limitations of the political frontiers. The chief of the 

 Western branch, Mahmot Beg by name, is a cousin of 

 Jenghis Khan, chief of the Altai Kirei, and resides in 

 the Maili Mountains. 



The southern section of the Kirei spend their time 

 between the valley of the Urungu River and the small 

 group of mountains, called Baitik Bogdo, which lie in 

 the plains to the south. These hills, we were told, are 

 favourable for summer grazing, and well watered, but in 

 winter migration is necessary, the nomads then trekking 

 either northwards to the Urungu Valley, or southwards 

 to the sand-dune area lying near the foot-hills of the 

 Bogdo-ola Range. During our journeys in the month 

 of February in Southern Dzungaria, we visited encamp- 

 ments of the Kirei in the belt of sand-dunes which 

 extends to within ten miles of the town of Guchen. 

 There we found they had made a remarkable use of a 

 region which, being waterless, was an impossible dwelling- 

 place for nomads, except at this particular season when 

 snow covered the ground and served as a water-supply. 

 Their movements being dependent upon the snowfall, 

 they begin to migrate southwards in November and to 

 go north again during the month of March. By these 

 means the Kirei are enabled to pasture their flocks over 

 the sand-belt covered with dwarf scrub and grass, and 

 bordered, along its northern edge, with forests of saxaul. 

 Their encampments presented a curious appearance. 



