:
JOURNEY THROUGH MONGOLIA AND
TIBET.
135
one begins from tiie start to make them small presents to keep them in good humor, they will pester one's life out. This remark applies to Mongols also, though in a less degree. To-day has been very hot, the thermometer in my tent at 1.30 p. M. stood at 78° Fahrenheit, and in the sun at 87° Fahrenheit. It is positively oppressive, the change has been so sudden. of Baron, my former acquaintance of I heard that the Djassak '89, is now living at Oim, a little valley opening on to the Ike The Hsien-sheng will go there gol and a day's ride from here. to-morrow to see Dowe, my former guide to Jyakundo, and learn if
he will assist
April
6.
me
this time.
— Most of my time
to-day has been taken up buying
and various other necessary odds and
barley, hair hobbles, ropes,
ends, and also ethnological specimens.
Flat pearl buttons, small
jack-knives and needles were in great demand, five buttons or needles buying a pair of hobbles.
For a fine matchlock
I
gave an
Alashan saddle-rug, a brick of tea and a jack-knife. was very sorry to hear to-day from a Chinese trader just arrived from Oim that Dowe had lost the sight of one eye, and I
that the other
was
in a
very inflamed condition and of
little
use
fear he will not be able to accompany me. There are here four Mongol lamas from Manchuria, one a Solon. The latter is waiting to join the yearly caravan from Tankar to Lh'asa, which is due in the Ts'aidam in May. He is a fine looking fellow as white as am, and has quite a European cast of features. Eastern Mongol lamas like living here, as the usage of the country admits of their having wives, whereas in Tibet or their own country such a thing would not be tolerated. The meteorological record to-day in the shade, from 6 a. m., to
to him,
I
I
7
p.
M.
,
HOUR.
6
A. M.
4 6
..
7
..
.,
TEMP. -1-35° F.
ATMOSPHERE.
Calm.
Cirro-stratus
^
(I
443 68^ M.
P.
as follows
39-1
7 „ 10 „ 12 ., 2
is
Light
N
W
.
breeze
67-5 61:2
Very light S. breeze Ciro-cumul. Strato. cirrus 53?2 Verylig 51°
These figures are
all
much
higher than on the
same date
in 1889.