SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 
cephalus frontalis and Eremias argus) were added 
to the collection. Besides the waterfowl and 
game birds already mentioned, wheatears and 
larks seemed to be the only feathered denizens 
of these sandy wastes. 
The scarcity of animal life was a great disappoint- 
ment to us, and we decided to waste no more 
time in this locality. The muleteers came to us 
complaining that they could get no grain for their 
mules, while very little fodder was to be had. 
The obstinate animals refused the coarse alkali- 
impregnated herbage that grew around. Our own 
stores also were sadly diminished, and we were 
told that we would not fare better by going to 
Borrobalgosun, where nothing but parched millet 
was to be had. 
Under these circumstances we decided to head 
for Yu-lin Fu, where we could replenish our stock 
of provisions, and properly equipped could once 
more attempt to penetrate the desert. 
Five days we travelled in a north-easterly 
direction across heartbreaking sand dunes. By the 
end of the first day we had left behind us the 
Tartar encampments, and found ourselves once 
more in country occupied by Chinese. 
The villages we passed were few and far between 
and we suffered considerably from thirst and heat. 
The white sand reflected the blinding rays of the 
sun, which shone ever more fiercely, till our eyes 
ached and our faces scorched and peeled. © 
26 
