Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 132 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

0132	Among the Celestials : vol.1

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104 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. V.

Morning broke as we appeared upon the

plateau ; a faint blue haze hung over the low

hills which edged the plain and stretched away

in the far distance. An extraordinary bound-

ing sense of freedom came over me as I looked

on that vast grassy plain, extended apparently

without limit all round. There was no let or

hindrance —I could go anywhere, it seemed,

and all nature looked bright, as if enticing me

on. Here and there in the distance could be

seen collections of small dots, which, as we

came nearer, proved to be herds of camels

and cattle. Numbers of larks rose on every

side and brightened the morning with their

singing. Small herds of deer were frequently

met with ; bustard too were seen, while

numbers of geese and duck were passing over-

head in their flight northward. The entry to

Mongolia was entrancing, and the spirits of

the whole party rose as we marched cheerily

over the plains.

Away in the distance we had seen some

black spots from which faint columns of blue

smoke were rising peacefully in the morning

air. These were the yurts, or felt tents, of

the Mongols, towards which we were making.

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