SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



of tlu' willows forms the chief food for their 

 lloeks of sheep and ijoats. 



We spent April TJ at this farmstead, drying 

 out our stores and exploring the immediate 

 vieinit\ . We found that the river that flows past 

 Ching-pien continues northward into the desert, 

 subsequently turning eastward and flowing back 

 into Chinese territory. 



Being anxious to see something of the Mongols 

 themselves we left Ning-t'ieh-liao the following 

 day, taking a northerly dir.^ction. 



We were told that the Tartars lived some twelve 

 miles away, and that it would be necessary to hire 

 a guide to lead us across a difficult stretch of 

 sandhills. ^Ve therefore engaged the services of 

 a stupid yokel, who had accompanied us from 

 Ching-pien, and who claimed to know some of 

 the Mongol families. 



\\c soon left behind us the belt of willows, and 

 passing a small lagoon, from which Anderson 

 secured a fine grey-lag goose, we entered the 

 dunes. Considerable difficulty was experienced 

 with the mules, whose small hoofs sank deep into 

 the sand. Spills were frequent. Once all four 

 mules were down together, piling one atop of the 

 other as they rolled down a more than usually 

 steep slope. Great confusion followed, and it 

 was only with the greatest care that animals 

 and loads were extricated without serious 

 damage. 



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