dig trenches for the wheels in 

 the mud for about 75 feet to 

 solid ground ; for if we did 

 not do this, the wheels would 

 spin around without moving 

 the car. 



A small lake or two were 

 passed where we saw a great 

 many wild-fowl. Most of the 

 grades that we went down 

 here were so steep that we 

 left the clutch in, shut off the 

 power, and went down under 

 compression, using the brakes 

 at the same time. 



From time to time groups 

 of native yurts (tents) were 

 passed by the side of the trail. 

 The women of this part of 

 Mongolia dress their hair very 

 differently from their sisters 

 of southern or inner Mon- 

 golia. The dress of the men, 

 however, is the same. 



Arriving at the Tola River, 

 we crossed by way of the 

 Russian bridge, which is con- 

 structed of logs. The Tola at 

 this point is about 300 feet 

 wide and from 5 to 10 feet 

 deep at that time of the year. 

 The surrounding mountains 

 were covered with a forest of 

 larch. After crossing the 

 bridge and traveling up the 

 river-bed, fording the smaller 

 tributaries from time to time, 

 we arrived at the native Chi- 

 nese city of Mai-Mai-Chen, 

 which is the business place of 

 Urga. It is about five miles 

 east of Urga proper, where 

 the Mongol temples and the 

 Russian traders are located. 

 The Chinese telegraph office 

 and a branch of the Ta Ching 

 Bank (government bank) are 

 situated at Mai-Mai-Chen. 



After giving the car a thor- 

 ough inspection and making 

 some needed adjustments, we 

 washed it and covered it up, 

 awaiting instructions from the 

 god regarding its delivery. 

 Time is without value among 

 the Mongols ; the higher the 

 official, the longer it takes to 



660 



