THE KIREI OF THE ALTAI 361 



tax, as well as the tribute paid to their own chief. Those 

 of the tribe who migrate in winter to the Bogdo-ola 

 Mountains in Southern Dzungaria, are taxed by the offi- 

 cials of Guchen for the use of their winter pasturage. 

 We came across a few of the latter, who complained to 

 us of ill-treatment at the hands of the Chinese ; but they 

 themselves were in fault, having considerably overstayed 

 the time allotted to them. We found others who had 

 avoided interference by claiming that they were Russian 

 subjects. 



This digression, in relation to the early history 

 and to the present-day distribution of the Kirei, is 

 necessary on account of our having, at this juncture, 

 arrived at the frontiers of their country. 



We will now resume the thread of the narrative and 

 return to the spot where we first came in contact with 

 these people. On leaving the hunting-grounds of the 

 Uigur plateau a break occurred in the usual routine of our 

 j ourney . Survey work was stopped by the speed at which 

 we were forced to travel, and excused by the compara- 

 tively well-known nature of the country through which 

 we were now passing. Winter was fast approaching, as 

 shown by the fact that, in the month of September, 

 our camps were repeatedly under snow ; we therefore 

 hastened to cross the Great Altai Range, which lay 

 between us and the warm lowlands of Dzungaria. 

 Pressing forward across the plateaux that lie in the 

 extreme north-western corner of Mongolia, we found 

 ourselves, in mid-September, approaching the lower 

 foot-hills of the Altai Mountains. This country was a 

 fine one, good for the shepherd, and pleasant to traverse. 

 Rivers of clearest water ran across the downlands, and 

 frequent larch groves gave the region a less bleak aspect 



