SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER 
We also found going very difficult and tiresome, 
owing to the looseness of the sand. 
At last after we had passed through a belt of 
tall scrub, there opened out before us a long and 
broad stretch of grass land dotted over with 
lagoons and marshes. As we approached these 
we noted vast numbers of waterfowl of every 
description. Grey-lag geese and sheld-ducks wan- 
dered in pairs between the tussocks of coarse grass 
in search of food. Flocks of stately cranes and 
lordly bustards waded knee deep in the marshes, 
or fed upon the grassy meadows. Teal and 
ducks of every variety blackened the surface of 
the lagoons, while plovers flapped heavily over- 
head uttering their plaintive calls. 
Scattered far and wide over the plain were 
innumerable herds of ponies and cattle, the 
property of the Mongols whose huts and tents 
we could see on the opposite edge of the grass- 
land. 
We made our way across to one of these huts, 
where we interrogated the goodwife, who was 
brought to the door by the barking of some savage 
and wolfish looking dogs. She refused us shelter 
on the ground that she could not supply our mules 
with the necessary fodder. 
We passed on to the next hut and met with 
a similar reception. At last after trying several 
farmsteads we reached a newly built, two-roomed 
hut, enclosed in a neat willow fence, and, unload- 
19 
