58 
A TWO MONTHS* TRIP INTO MONGOLIA. 
Yang*s uncle was “ making a book/* as be appeared very busy with 
sheets of paper covered with Chinese hieroglyphics. 
T--having mounted the mare, we sallied forth to the start, I 
having armed myself with a flag as starter. The start was a good one 
though the mare hung back for a few seconds; she then went through 
the whole field and came in a good hundred yards ahead amidst the 
shouts of the astonished crowd, who at the close of the race thronged 
round to examine her. The other races were won by various Chinese 
or Mongols, one small boy carrying off a watch after a close finish on 
a white pony bare-backed. There were no penalties, scratch weights ! 
On starting our race I was unfortunate enough to leave two fierce- 
looking Mongols at the post, who eyed me with no little wrath in their 
faces. I however jumped on my pony and galloped into the midst of 
the spectators to give the heated jockeys time to cool their injured 
feelings! 
There was really a keen interest shewn in the meeting by the spec¬ 
tators, who kept clear of the course, forming a line each side, although 
there were no rails, ropes or police. 
Colonel Hoong presented the prizes after each race; at the close of 
the meeting a messenger came from the chief Lama of Dolon-Nor to 
the effect that he would like to see the “ great English horse.** We 
accordingly repaired to the Lamasery, where, after tea had been 
served to us outside, the High Priest made his appearance on a low 
balcony and asked us a few questions about the mare. As they had 
told me that this head Lama was a prophet, I told the interpreter to 
ask the old gentleman for the name of the winner of the Hong Kong 
Derby, but the interpreter appeared to be shocked at the idea and 
declined to put the question ! 
That night we entertained Colonel Hoong at dinner, our cook pro¬ 
viding alternately English and Chinese dishes; and the Colonel*s 
attempts to use a knife and fork were even more humourous than ours 
with chop-sticks. 
A few days later we left Dolon-Nor and travelled back by the same 
route along which we had come. The journey back was without inci¬ 
dent, except for two false alarms of i brigands. We were passing 
through a scantily inhabited part, and having been repeatedly warned 
by the innkeepers, I had fastened my revolver to my saddle, besides 
carrying a rifle. We had let the carts go on ahead, and T-and I 
were having long shots at antelope, when from the summit of a hill I 
spied eight or nine mounted men following in the track of our carts. 
They appeared to be armed and were proceeding at a canter. We 
mounted and were soon in hot pursuit. After a chase of a mile or two 
we came up with the party, only to find them to be a few soldiers travel¬ 
ling to the next village. 
One night, too, we had retired to rest when the inn coolie came in 
quietly and, pointing to our rifles, put his finger to his mouth, and 
then pointed through the open door to a large room where several men 
were quartered. Fearing an attack on our sycee we loaded rifles, guns 
and revolvers, and then, trusting to the watch-dog, went to sleep; 
nothing, however, occurred. 
