THE SACRED MOUNTAIN 535 



the Bogdo-ola, would be incomplete, for besides its geo- 

 graphical interest, the economic value of the lands at 

 its base, its close proximity to Urumchi — the capital, 

 and the incomparable beauty of its alpine region, the 

 Bogdo-ola is also the sacred mountain of the natives. 



The towering summit of Bogdo-ola is the feature 



of Southern Dzungaria. Although not attaining the 



altitude of some peaks in the Tian Shan to the south 



of Manas, it shows its height to great advantage, as it 



rises abruptly out of the plain, and can be seen for an 



immense distance from every point of the compass. 



Manas, from where we first saw the peak, is a hundred 



miles away ; we took its bearings from beyond Ta-shih-tu 



at the western end of the Barkul Range, — about a 



hundred and twenty miles to the east of the peak ; 



while Prjevalsky has mentioned viewing it from the 



banks of the Urungu River, at a distance of one hundred 



and sixty miles. Such a pinnacle, standing alone on the 



edge of the desert, creates wonder and astonishment 



in the minds of the superstitious natives, who deem 



it sacred, call it the " Ghost Mountain," and connect it 



with mythical and mystical traditions. Its triple-crested 



summit can worthily take its place as the Olympus of 



Dzungaria. 



The Bogdo-ola is typical of the southern borderland 

 of Dzungaria, and compares strongly with the less 

 inspiring northern border-ranges that we visited later 

 in the season. The range lies midway between the 

 Karlik Tagh group and the main Tian Shan, but it 

 belongs wholly to the latter mountain-system. Its 

 altitude is nothing unusual, being the forerunner of 

 mightier peaks to the west ; but no one who has seen 

 the Bogdo-ola can deny that it possesses a certain 



