SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS 553 



tection from the fierce rays of the sun, and a shady 

 backwater enabled us, by bathing, to rid ourselves of 

 the dust of the desert. 



We were now on the threshold of a country which, 

 from the sporting point of view, was completely un- 

 explored, and our hopes ran high as to what might be 

 ahead. Not much could be learnt from the industrious, 

 stay-at-home Chantos, but we hoped to get all the infor- 

 mation we wanted as to the sporting possibilities from the 

 Charkhar Mongols, who inhabited the region to the 

 west, so we decided to make for the headquarters of the 

 tribe. On the first day's march up the river we must 

 have passed quite three hundred yurts, with their atten- 

 dant flocks and herds grazing on the lush grass that 

 grew among the timber that fringed the river. This 

 fringe of trees and scrub, though narrow, is so thick and 

 interlaced as to be almost impenetrable in places ; it 

 is largely composed of a thorny bush, which in winter is 

 covered with golden clusters of small berries, the favourite 

 food of the pheasants which abound in these jungles. 

 When we crossed the Lower Borotala, in November, on 

 our way to Kulja, we shot several, but during the 

 summer they are rarely seen amongst the dense vegetation. 



Allowing our caravan to pass the aoul ^ of the Amban 

 of the Lower Borotala without halting, we paid a flying 

 visit to his wife, who was in charge, the Amban himself 

 being away in Sweeting on business. 



His spouse received us with true nomadic hospitality. 

 In the cool of her gorgeous snow-white yurt we were 

 refreshed with tea and delicious cream made into the 

 shape and consistency of a pancake, which rivalled 

 in excellence the best Devonshire. 



^ Village of yurts. 



