SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER 



We also found going ver}^ difficult and tiresome, 

 owing to the looseness of the sand. 



At last after we had passed through a belt of 

 tall scrub, there opened out before us a long and 

 broad stretch of grass land dotted over with 

 lagoons and marshes. As we approached these 

 we noted vast numbers of waterfowl of every 

 description. Grey-lag geese and sheld-ducks wan- 

 dered in pairs between the tussocks of coarse grass 

 in search of food. Flocks of stately cranes and 

 lordly bustards waded knee deep in the marshes, 

 or fed upon the grassy meadows. Teal and 

 ducks of every variety blackened the surface of 

 the lagoons, while plovers flapped heavily over- 

 head uttering their plaintive calls. 



Scattered far and wide over the plain were 

 innumerable herds of ponies and cattle, the 

 property of the Mongols whose huts and tents 

 we could see on the opposite edge of the grass- 

 land. 



We made our way across to one of these huts, 

 where we interrogated the goodwife, who was 

 brought to the door by the barking of some savage 

 and wolfish looking dogs. She refused us shelter 

 on the ground that she could not supply our mules 

 with the necessary fodder. 



We passed on to the next hut and met with 

 a similar reception. At last after trying several 

 farmsteads we reached a newly built, two-roomed 

 hut, enclosed in a neat willow fence, and, unload- 



19 



