SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 
of the willows forms the chief food for their 
flocks of sheep and goats. 
We spent April 12 at this farmstead, drying 
out our stores and exploring the immediate 
vicinity. We found that the river that flows past 
Ching-pien continues northward into the desert, 
subsequently turning eastward and flowing back 
into Chinese territory. 
Being anxious to see something of the Mongols 
themselves we left Ning-t’ieh-liao the following 
day, taking a northerly direction. 
We were told that the Tartars lived some twelve 
miles away, and that it would be necessary to hire 
a guide to lead us across a difficult stretch of 
sandhills. We therefore engaged the services of 
a stupid yokel, who had accompanied us from 
Ching-pien, and who claimed to know some of 
the Mongol families. 
We soon left behind us the belt of willows, and 
passing a small lagoon, from which Anderson 
secured -a fine grey-lag goose, we entered the 
dunes. Considerable difficulty was experienced 
with the mules, whose small hoofs sank deep into 
the sand. Spills were frequent. Once all four 
mules were down together, piling one atop of the 
other as they rolled down a more than usually 
steep slope. Great confusion followed, and it 
was only with the greatest care that animals 
and loads were extricated without serious 
damage. 
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