SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



cephalus frontalis and Eremias argus) were added 

 to the collection. Besides the waterfowl and 

 game birds already mentioned, wheatears and 

 larks seemed to be the only feathered denizens 

 of these sandy wastes. 



The scarcity of animal life was a great disappoint- 

 ment to us, and we decided to waste no more 

 time in this locality. The muleteers came to us 

 complaining that they could get no grain for their 

 mules, while very little fodder was to be had. 

 The obstinate animals refused the coarse alkali- 

 impregnated herbage that grew around. Our own 

 stores also were sadly diminished, and we were 

 told that we would not fare better by going to 

 Borrobalgosun, where nothing but parched millet 

 was to be had. 



Under these circumstances we decided to head 

 for Yii-lin Fu, where we could replenish our stock 

 of provisions, and properly equipped could once 

 more attempt to penetrate the desert. 



Five days we travelled in a north-easterly 

 direction across heartbreaking sand dunes. By the 

 end of the first day we had left behind us the 

 Tartar encampments, and found ourselves once 

 more in country occupied by Chinese. 



The villages we passed were few and far between 

 and we suffered considerably from thirst and heat. 

 The white sand reflected the blinding rays of the 

 sun, which shone ever more fiercely, till our eyes 

 ached and our faces scorched and peeled. 



26 



