Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 146 (Color Image)

0146	Among the Celestials : vol.1

118 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. VI.

of the town, and, after passing for some five

miles over a well-cultivated plain, began to

ascend the great buttress range on to the

Mongolian plateau. Crossing these mountains

the following day, we afterwards entered an

undulating hilly country, inhabited principally

by Chinese. Villages were numerous, cart-

tracks led in every direction, and the valleys

were well cultivated. There were also large

meadows of good grass, where immense flocks

of sheep were feeding ; but I was astonished to

see that, although we were now in Mongolia,

the largest and best flocks were tended by and

belonged to Chinese, who have completely

ousted the Mongols in the very calling which,

above all, ought to be their speciality. It is

really a fact that the Chinese come all the way

from the province of Shantung to these Mon-

golian pasture-lands to fatten sheep for the

Peking market. Here is yet another instance

of the manner in which the pushing and in-

dustrious Chinaman is forcing his way, and

gradually driving back the less persevering

inhabitants of the country on which he en-

croaches ; and it seems probable that the

Chinese from the south, and the Russians from

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