SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER 
it was only with the greatest difficulty that they 
were induced to proceed at all. Presently we 
reached the mountains, and entering a deep and 
winding valley followed it up for about ten miles, 
when, as darkness was descending, we were obliged 
to put up for the night at 4 small village named 
Wu-lan-pan. 
Continuing up ,the valley the following day, we 
crossed the divide at its head, and entered a second, 
much larger valley, up which we travelled as far 
as a tiny hamlet called Ssii-he-tien, where we had 
lunch. Leaving this place, we entered a deep side 
ravine, the winding boulder-strewn course of which 
we followed as far as the cart could go. At this 
point we stopped and pitched camp. 
We were now in the very heart of a region of 
high, rugged and precipitous mountains, the deep 
gorges and ravines of which were filled with small 
timber. This extended up the steep slopes in 
many places, while away down in the shadowy 
ravine bottoms sparkling brooks, now only partially 
ice-bound, gurgled and plashed over the rounded 
pebbles and polished boulders. Here and there 
deep pools temptingly invited a plunge, but the 
little fringe of ice acted as a gentle reminder of 
the still frigid temperature. In these pools shoals 
‘of small fish might be seen darting in and out of 
the dark caves beneath the overhanging rocks. 
On the mountain sides the tender green of the 
sprouting poplars and hazels contrasted strangely 
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