SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 
after once more reaching Yen-an Fu, we set out 
in a north-westerly direction along the Yen-shui 
valley. 
We were somewhat reassured as to the prospects 
of securing food for ourselves. and our animals 
in the Ordos, the natives of Yen-an Fu having 
informed us that there were plenty of Mongols, 
who were well off and hospitable, scattered in 
little encampments at easy stages in every direc- 
tion. 
The journey up the Yen-shui proved uneventful 
except that as we neared the end of the valley on 
the third day, we had to cross the river no less 
tharf sixty-eight times. Towards the end of the 
afternoon, however, it began to dwindle down 
till it was no longer of formidable dimensions and 
crossings were easily effected. 
As the day wore on we noticed that the loess hills 
were growing higher and higher, while the sub- 
stratum of rock changed from grey to red sand- 
stone. Through this the stream cut deeply, 
forming sheer and lofty cliffs on either side. 
In one place we noticed, high up on the face 
of the cliff, some cave dwellings, which were 
reached by a series of stakes driven into the face 
of the rock. Many of these were missing, from 
which we concluded that the caves had long 
remained untenanted. 
The natives of our last stopping place told us 
that here we would find a good-sized village with 
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