442 SOUTHERN DZUNGARIA 



point there being only small farms dependent upon 

 separate canals. On the west side there appears to be 

 more cultivation. Apparently the ground here was 

 easier to irrigate, for we discovered a very extensive 

 area of country, well watered, both by canals from the 

 Manas River and from other sources farther west. The 

 water-supply must be ample, as the main produce is 

 rice. Rice is being introduced more and more ; it is of 

 the best quality, and is in great demand. The natives 

 get a living so easily that they idle away most of the 

 time in gambling. 



The whole of the lower Manas River, except where 

 hemmed in by sand-dunes or where running in a deep 

 ravine, is capable of being extensively used for irrigation 

 purposes. Truly Manas, itself, is well situated. As we 

 rode out on the road to Urumchi and saw its inspiring 

 background of snow-mountains rising to 20,000 ft., the 

 lands awaiting the hand of man, the fields already "laid 

 out," — lined with old irrigation-canals needing only to 

 be redug, we marvelled at the starving millions of 

 China who leave their own country for Australia and 

 America, when the}^ have this fertile land awaiting 

 them. 



On leaving Manas the atmosphere became more alive, 

 and our impressions more interesting. We were now only 

 a few days' journey from the capital, as was shown, 

 even if we had not known it, by the increased amount 

 of traffic on the road. Many a monotonous day's 

 journey had been relieved by counting and tabulating 

 the traffic en route. For instance, between Kulja and 

 Shi-Kho we passed three hundred and fifty laden camels 

 going westwards and a hundred returning ''empty" to 

 Urumchi, but after leaving Manas we had our work 



