mounds, covered with snow at present. On the right we had the same chain of mountains, fringed with firs, that we saw to the N from Kanglungsu. It rose abruptly from the surrounding country, but did not continue any further to the west. On the left, at a great distance, we could see a mountain range, wrapped in snow, which the local people call »Longshur». It forms a continuation of the Hanshoru mountain which we saw from the bottom of the Hrar gol gorge. In a direction of ioI° we could see a mountain peak clearly standing out from the chain. Its name is Galdjan and the Neiman gol, a tributary of the Ch'ih-ho that flows past Li Yuan, is said to flow from it.
The descent was, if possible, even steeper than the ascent, but we soon reached the bottom of a fork-shaped gorge, in the western branch of which the home of the Thumu was situated on a small river, Kluadjek gol. It consisted of a fair-sized wooden house with a couple of cabins built of thin logs, the roofs being extended to form small half-open outhouses. The main building consists of two spacious, barn-like rooms, entirely unfurnished, with a hole in the ceiling and a kettle placed on 8 bricks in the middle of the room and a small alcove partitioned off in one corner, furnished with a kang covered with rugs and blankets, on which the Thumu enjoys his opium-pipe. On either side of the princely dwelling there were two circular enclosures made of poles, for cattle. Close by stood a couple of low grey tents raised on a low foundation of thin logs caulked with manure, each having an enclosure for cattle. These were typical Shera Yögur dwellings, for there were no wooden houses excepting Kanglungsu and the house of the Thumu.
The Shera Yögurs inhabit the mountains on the following rivers, all of which are tributaries of the Ch'ih-ho or of its tributaries: Neiman or Longsor (flowing past Li Yuan), Tshulung, Zdem, Sheirik, Hrar, Kiito, Tashtyng, Khsan and Pazyng gol (upper reaches of the Ch'ih-ho) or Qara murin, as it is called in its lower course. The Thumu, whose knowledge of his own country seemed rather limited, said that his people inhabited a district, extending 2-3 days' ride westward, the same distance eastward and 3-4 days southward from Kanglungsu. He estimated that there were about 30o tents of them often at a distance of 10-12 li from each other. They were governed by about a dozen thumus subordinated to my host. The dignity of thumu is hereditary and is called »nujun» in the Yögur language. It carries with it the dignity of being a Chinese official. The thumu dispenses justice, apportions the burden of taxation and administers the tents belonging to his district. Important cases are referred to the senior thumu. They receive no pay, but are given small gifts when they have to draw up documents. There are no written laws, nor are they literate, tradition and sound commonsense being their guiding principles. Serious crimes do not occur. In the event of an execution the case is referred to the Chinese authorities.
An annual tax of 23 horses is paid to the Titai at Kanchow and the tusy at Li Yuan receives privately 5o tjao of copper coins, a deer and 20-30 hares a year. The value of the horses is paid in cash at the rate of 28 lan per horse and the sum is divided by the thumu according to the wealth of the population. The thumu complained of the arbitrariness and extortions of the Chinese. Quite recently 2 jais had put in an appearance, ostensibly on the instructions of the Shenguan at Fu-yeh (who has nothing to do with the Yögurs)
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