SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



down. Everybody and everything was drenched, 

 and momentarily the wind threatened to carry 

 away the tent, on to which we were all hanging 

 for dear life. The storm did not last long, how- 

 ever, so that when we got the stove going we 

 were able to get om' clothes and belongings dry 

 before nightfall. 



We were now well into Mongol territory and 

 could no longer expect to find inns or any shelter 

 except that of our own tents. The Mongols 

 along this route, owing to their continual inter- 

 course with travelling Chinese, who are ever on 

 the alert to cheat them, were inclined to be in- 

 hospitable even to us. They generally refused 

 to sell us even the commonest commodities, such 

 as milk and argol, except at extortionate prices, 

 preferring to lose the sale rather than reduce the 

 price quoted by a single cash. This attitude is 

 scarcely to be wondered at, for it is the last re- 

 source of the poor Mongol against the cunning 

 and avarice of the Chinese, who above all other 

 peoples are skilled in the art of cheating and 

 swindling. Even as it is, the Mongols for decades 

 past have been cheated out of land and cattle 

 till many of them are reduced to abject poverty. 

 The Chinese trader or dealer makes his appearance 

 amongst the Mongols bringing with him all sorts 

 of articles that he knows will appeal to their 

 simple minds. These he sells at excessive rates, 

 -and refuses to accept immediate payment. He 



142 



