Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 158 (Color Image)

0158	Among the Celestials : vol.1

128 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. VI.

where the silence of the Valley of Death. The

Hurku Hills are the northern definition of the

wildest and most sterile part of the Gobi."

After this we crossed some low hills running

down from the Hurku range, and arrived on

the banks of a little stream, about a foot wide

and a few inches deep, with small patches of

green grass on its margin, where we halted for

three days to buy a couple of new camels.

There were several Mongol yurts about, and

we had visits from some of the men. They

were tall, strong, muscular fellows, but very

childish, amused at everything, and very rough

in their manners.

Looking on these uncouth, indolent men, it

was difficult to imagine that they were the

descendants of the wild Tartar hordes, who

under Chengiz Khan had conquered China, had

penetrated to India, had subdued all Turkestan

and Persia, and swept through Russia even to

Central Europe. I had now seen Mongols in

the far eastern end of Mongolia, where Chengiz

Khan first commenced to establish his control

over them. I had seen them in those districts

round the Great Wall where he led them on

his first incursion into China proper, and I now

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