SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER 



temperatures. Indeed they must needs be so, 

 for the plains are swept in summer by terrible 

 storms, such as that described in the preceding 

 chapter, while in winter the temperature falls 

 below zero. A single low door in each tent affords 

 ingress. The floors are of beaten cowdung, and 

 are usually raised slightly in the centre, where an 

 open iron stove holds the smouldering argols. 

 In the tents of the wealthier Mongols there is a 

 raised dais on the side away from the door, upon 

 which the lord himself sleeps or the honoured 

 guest is seated on elegant woollen rugs, while he 

 sips salted and buttered tea. Round the sides 

 of the tent are neatly placed small cupboards 

 and red lacquer boxes, in which the household 

 belongings are kept, while on the walls hang small 

 mirrors, guns and powder-horns, whips, hobbles 

 and other articles of daily use. The walls and 

 roofs are always jet black from the smoke, which 

 on fine days is allowed exit through holes in the 

 roof. The inmates sleep round the fireplace on 

 skins and felts. 



For a living these Mongols raise horses and 

 cattle almost exclusively, never cultivating the 

 soil like those we saw in the Southern Ordos. 



The district round Tabool is known as the Im- 

 perial Pastures, and is well suited to stock-raising. 

 Though included on the map in the province of 

 Chihli this district comes under the Banner of the 

 Chagars. 



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