404 Geographical Notices. 
ture for the nomadic life of the wild and superstitious Mongol, 
who, spurning the ties of a fixed abode, scours the level plainon 
his fleet steed. 
With respect to geographical position, the Daurian frontier- 
_ steppes occupy a narrow zone between longitude 112° 30’ and 
119° E.; their chief extension is from west to east, and they ar 
only in a few places intersected by the parallel of 50° N. latitude, — 
If the treeless elevations are alone to be denominated steppes, the — 
boundary of the Russo-Daurian steppes must be drawn south — 
wards from Nijni-Ulhun frontier station, as the mountains on 
the banks of the Onon, extending farther west, are covered all 
over with dense forests; on the east, on the other hand, fromthe 
above station, and between Akshinsk and Mogoitu, along the 
‘Tight bank of the Onon, extends a forest of tall trees, the pre 
dominating family of which, the pines suddenly disappearsaler — 
versts east of Mogoitu, and is succeeded by a straggling woodol — 
birch, as far as Kubuhai. oe 
The steppe district thus only crosses the Onon at Niji-Ulhun, — 
occupying also a small zone, well irrigated with numerous small — 
streams, on its left bank, . 
some places 10 miles in breadth. This forest is worthy of notice — 
for its historic associations as the sojourn of Chingis-Khan, and 
flowing from the northeast, and which likewise ap mek 
* This stream is called Onon-Borza in distinction to the three - 
which fall into the Argun, aoe 
