kow of about the same size and to li further on Shiherkow. The valley was bounded in the N and S by low, terrace-like, grassy hills. 50 li from the crossing of the river and go li (about 3o miles) from Lung kowpu we reached the village of Chukowyi, our goal for this day's journey. It consists of 240 houses and a small bazaar with 3 slightly larger shops. A small impanj was occupied by 40 men under the command of a tusy. Mustard is grown here principally, hut also wheat, peas, tchinkho and oats. The land yields a 6-7 fold crop. Snow between the gth and 4th months, which sometimes remains lying. A good deal of rain between the 5th and 8th months. Burans are common in winter and spring; they are also known to occur in autumn, mostly from the north. — This village was also flooded with recruits and we had to fight as though for our lives to secure a hut. There are said to be Dungans here, but in very small numbers. They try to hide their nationality. The recruits were between 20 and 30 years of age, most of them being about 20. The officers alone come from Urumchi. Non-commissioned officers are appointed from among the recruits.
We continued, as during the latter part of yesterday, in an ESE direction. About 5 li January 26th.
from Chukowyi we crossed a tributary river coming from the SW. 5 Ii beyond we came Pingfan.
to the small village of Shui chuan. The river altered its course, describing a large curve open to the SW. The road ran in a SE direction. 5 li further on we passed a small group of houses, Jin va san, and 3 li beyond it a group of ruins. We had now cut across a rather larger open, tilled patch lying in this river bend. The river flows on to the south, greatly compressed between larger mountains that cross it approximately in a W—S direction. The valley is not more than 1/3 of a mile wide. At this place the Great Wall crosses to the opposite bank at the bend of the river. 3 li from the last group of ruins we passed another with a couple of inhabited houses, Ehr-shih-li kei pei, and t li beyond we reached the village of Vu chang pu. It consisted of small groups of houses scattered along the river for a distance of about to li. Here the direction of the road was pronouncedly S. 32 li
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