SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER 
other competitors, including the jockeys of the 
chief’s own race ponies, were of course directed. 
along the correct route. At the given signal the 
ponies dashed off on their long cross country race, 
the champion well in the lead. To the surprise 
of every one this pony, after taking the long route, 
arrived at the winning post before any of the others. 
were in sight. The owner naturally claimed the 
first prize, but the wily chief got out of the diffi- 
culty by disqualifying the pony for the first prize, 
because it had taken the wrong course; but he 
very graciously awarded it the second prize. The 
first prize went to the owner of the second pony 
reaching the winning post, which in this case 
happened to belong to the chief himself. 
The night after the races was spent by us in great 
anxiety, as the rain fell in torrents hour after hour, 
and we were momentarily threatened with inunda- 
tion. A small, dry, stream bed, which looked 
harmless enough when we camped upon its bank, 
now assumed the proportions of a river, the edge 
of which crept slowly to within a foot of our tent. 
Every moment I expected the banks of the main 
stream above us to give way and flood the plain. 
At about ten o’clock we heard a cry, and rushing 
out were just in time to rescue a luckless carter 
and his oxen from drowning in the torrent that 
rushed past our tent. The wheels of the carts. 
were washed away, but the bullocks, aided by us, 
were able to drag the empty wagons to the shore. 
157 
