368 UNKNOWN MONGOLIA 



nomads moving down to their winter quarters. They 

 had come from the high pastures on the flanks of the 

 Great Altai, and from the lands surrounding the lakes, 

 which lie embosomed in the grassy uplands at an alti- 

 tude of about 7,000 ft. At this season they sought the 

 sheltered valleys of a lower altitude, where protection 

 from cold and a lesser snowfall made the severity of 

 winter more endurable. The valley presented a lively 

 scene, with the continual movement of family parties 

 with their household belongings, flocks and herds ; as 

 well as small caravans of camels carrying wool, hides, 

 and felt — the products of the by-gone season — slouching 

 past on their way to Kobdo, the trade centre of the 

 Mongolian Altai. 



The Kobdo River was here a fast-flowing stream, 

 fifty yards in breadth, with banks pleasantly dotted 

 with groups of giant larch-trees and willow- scrub. We 

 discovered here the temporary camp of the chief of the 

 tribe, with a considerable following of retainers ; so we 

 pitched our tents near by in order to interview him, and 

 to ask for means of transport through his country. The 

 chief, we discovered, was on a visit to Chuguchak, a 

 town lying on the Russo-Chinese frontier in the Dzun- 

 garian plain, at a distance of about 400 miles from his 

 home. His eldest son, however, did the honours in his 

 stead, and the factotum of the princely family looked 

 after our needs. 



Jenghis Khan-Kam, paramount chief of the Kirei, 

 claims descent from the great Mongol emperor of that 

 name. This claim is curious, for, although Jenghis 

 overthrew the Kirei confederacy, it is extremely doubt- 

 ful that he set up a Mongol ruler over a Turki tribe. 

 The present chief is certainly of pure Turkish descent. 



