HOW WILD ANIMALS ARE CAUGHT 77 
encountered, which delayed the start several weeks. Dr. 
Radmai pointed out that the current coin of Europe was 
quite useless on such a journey. The medium of exchange 
in most request consists of large flat silver pieces weighing 
about 12 lbs. each; and it was necessary to have a large 
quantity of these manufactured at Hamburg before starting 
off. The metal is much lighter in colour than ordinary Eng- 
lish silver ; and for small purchases it was the habit to break 
off portions of the coin of whatever size might be required. 
Tea and coloured woollen bands were also of use as money in 
Mongolia. 
Soon after the arrival of the money in St. Petersburg, 
Grieger set forth upon his journey, full of hope for a success- 
ful issue to his adventure. The time selected was winter— 
a typical Russian winter, with town and country covered deep 
in snow. This inclement season was chosen, in order that 
the arrival in Mongolia might take place in the spring, when 
the young foals had just been born ; and also that the severity 
of a Mongolian winter might be avoided. It is true that 
Mongolian summers bring their troubles, as well as the 
winters. The climate there is typically continental ; that is to 
say, the temperature fluctuates with great rapidity and through 
extreme variations. Thus it may not infrequently happen 
that 80° F. (27° C.) is registered during the daytime, while 
there is a frost at night. The cold nights, however, do little 
to destroy the insect pests which afflict the traveller in the 
warmer season. The banks of the Kobdo River swarm with 
myriads of tiny gnats which settle in clouds upon the horses 
when they go to drink. They attack in particular the tender 
underparts of the animal; and exposure to their bites for half 
an hour is sufficient to ruin them effectually: death ensuing 
from loss of blood and from inflammation. 
Grieger, who took with him only one assistant, travelled 
by the Siberian Railway through Moscow as far as Ob, where 
the line is crossed by the river of that name. From there he 
journeyed southwards by sledge about 170 miles to Biisk, a 
