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INTRODUCTORY: REMARKS. By COLONEL H. YULE.
INTRODUCTORY: REMARKS. By COLONEL H. YULE.
WITHIN the last ten years the exploration of High Asia which, on our side at least, had long been languid, has revived and advanced with ample strides. So rapid,’indeed, has been the aggression upon the limits of the Unknown that in the contemplation of a future historian of geographical discovery it may easily seem that the contraction of those limits in our age might fitly be compared to the rapid evaporation of the cloud with which the breath has tinged a plate of polished steel. It is hardly
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AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
Four YEARS AGO, thanks to the suggestion of the Imperial Geographical Society, warmly seconded by the Minister of War, whose intelligent co-operation in all scientific matters is so well known, I was appointed commander of an expedition to Northern China, with the view of exploring those remote regions of the Celestial Empire, about which our knowledge is of the most limited and fragmentary kind, derived for the most part from Chinese literature, from the descriptions of the great thirteenthcent
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I FROM KIAKHTA TO PEKING,
I FROM KIAKHTA TO PEKING,
Eve of departure—Post across Mongolia—Mode of conveyance—Departure from Kiakhta—Physical features of the country north of Urga—Temples there—Brick-tea—The Kutukhtu and Chinese y towards Lamaism—Description of the town—Disposal of the dead—Government—The Dungans—The Gobi—Its character —Its vegetation and inhabitants—The post-road—Argols—Rapacity of crows—The sand-grouse (Syrr%aptes)—The Mongol lark— The Alpine hare—the Steppe antelope (Dzeren)--Antelope-shooting—The native methods of hunting—Past
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IIL THE MONGOLS.
IIL THE MONGOLS.
The Mongols—Physical characteristics—Modification of character on the Chinese border—Pigtail introduced—Costume—The Ywurta or Felt Tent—Uncleanliness—Tea-drinking—Food and beverages— Gluttony—Animal food—Cattle—Importance of their hetds—Indo- lent habits—Physical capabilities and defects—Cowardice—Saga- city and obtuseness— Curiosity-—Points of the compass—Estimation of distance—Calendar and Year-Cycle—Language and diversities —Literature— Love of gossip—Songs—Mongol women—Marriage customs and d
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IIL THE SOUTH-EASTERN BORDER OF THE MONGOLIAN PLATEAU.
IIL THE SOUTH-EASTERN BORDER OF THE MONGOLIAN PLATEAU.
Peking—First Impressions—The Streets and Walls—European Esta- blishments— Preparations for the Journey—Fire-arms and Outfit— Insufficiency of Funds and its Consequence—Financial Arrange- ments-—Chinese Currency—Inconveniences of the Copper Cur- rency—Passport—Departure from Peking— Preliminary Tour to the North—Ku-pe-kau Gate in Wall—Migration of Wild-fowl— Road to Dolon-nor—Wood on the Way—Jehol—Fauna of the Route—Goitre— Khingan Range— Dolon-nor-- Idol Foundry— Shandu River—Tsagan Balgas—Sandh
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IV. THE SOUTH-EASTERN BORDER OF THE PLATEAU OF MONGOLIA—( continued).
IV. THE SOUTH-EASTERN BORDER OF THE PLATEAU OF MONGOLIA—( continued).
Reorganisation of the Party—Fresh start from’ Kalgan—R. C. Missions —Samdadchiemba, Huc’s companion—Dishonest convert—Vigi- lance needed against thieves—Shara-hada Range—Suma-hada Range—The Argali; its habits and incidents of chase—Late spring— Lifeless aspects—-The Urute country and Western Tumites —Tedious purchase of sheep—Dumb bargaining— Difficulties in purchase of milk—Our traffic with the Mongols—Throw off the trading character with advantage—Rude treatment from Chinese— The strong hand n
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V. ORDOS.
V. ORDOS.
Defiition of Ordos—Nomads * contrasted With settlers— Historical 17 ‘sketch--Divisions—The Hoang-ho and its floods—Route up the "3& valley—Depth, width, and navigation of river—Old channels; deviation of its course—Disputes about boundaries—Flora of the valley——Scanty vegetation — Liquorice root— Aspect of valley changes——Kuzupchi sands— Terrors of the desert——Legends—Oases and their vegetation—Sterility of the valley—-Birds and animals— Traces of Dungan insurrection—A stray camel—Intens
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VI. ALA-SHAN.
VI. ALA-SHAN.
The Eleuths—Extent and character of Ala-shan—Sandy tracts of Ala-shan—Flour of the Sulhir grass—Flora and Fauna of Ala- shan—Birds of Ala-shan—Population of .Ala-shan—Mongols of Ala-shan— Lake Tsagan-nor— Route to Din-yuan-ing— Arrival there—Din-yuan-ing and the Prince—The Prince of Ala-shan and his family — The Gigen — Lama Baldin-Sordji — Curiosity of the people—Intercourse with the younger Princes—Questions about Europe—Openings for trade—Stories about the Dalai Lama— Shambaling,’ the Promise
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THE GANDJUR OR KANJUR. THE SACRED LITERATURE OF TIBET. P. 211.
THE GANDJUR OR KANJUR. THE SACRED LITERATURE OF TIBET. P. 211.
The collection of sacred books—the Tibetan Bible, is entitled Kanjur, i.e. Translation of the Word (of Buddha). It was translated entirely from Sanskrit originals in the eighth and ninth centuries, when the canon was closed. It consists of 100 volumes, in some editions extending to 108 vols.—oblong folios of separate leaves, 400-700 in each volume, unbound, placed between two rough boards, and fastened with a rude strap and buckle. The Kanjur contains not less than 1083 distinct works, which rel
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SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. VoruME I. Pace 6.
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. VoruME I. Pace 6.
COLONEL PREJEVALSKY here, and I think elsewhere, gives Daban as the "Mongdl equivalent for * mountain range.’ In this I canhot but think he is mistaken. Ddbdr in oriental Turki (and presumably in Mongol, if it be a Mongol word also) means, not a range, but a pass, or what is in Savoy called a col. Thus, on one of the routes from India to, Yarkand there is a pass called the Yanghi Dibin, ‘the New Pass’ ‘New Range’ would be nonsense; but * Yanghi-daban-Range,’ as some maps have it, is lawful nomen
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GIGEN. P. 12.
GIGEN. P. 12.
This is the word used by our author for those ordinary ‘incarnate’ Lamas whom Huc calls Chaberons. The word is Mongol, and we find it thus explained in Kovalefsky’s Dictionary : * Gheghen . . . éclat, splendeur; . . brillant . . . personne vénérable; ttre hwonoraive dun, grave personnage! Gegen Khutuktn is one of the formal titles of the Great Lama at Urga spoken of in the text.2—V. Y Buddhala is however older than Hue, for I see it is alluded to by IL J. Schmidt in his Forschungen, &c.,
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PEHLING AND FANQUL P. 41. KUMIZ AND DARASUN. P. 54.
PEHLING AND FANQUL P. 41. KUMIZ AND DARASUN. P. 54.
The footnote here, which says « Pehling' is the Chinese for Englishmen, Fan-qui for Frenchmen, needs correction. Fan-Kwes is simply the term usually rendered * foreign devils) and is applied to Europeans generally. Pe-ling appears to be a corruption of the Western Asiatic Firings, ie. ‘a Frank,’ a term which in some older Chinese notices appears in the form Fu-lang. Pe-ling, or Philing, we know from Huc* Hodgson, and Edgar? is the name which the Chinese at Lhassa give to the English in India, an
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TARTAR MANNERS AT ‘FOOD. P. 56. MONGOL ORIENTATION. P. 64.
TARTAR MANNERS AT ‘FOOD. P. 56. MONGOL ORIENTATION. P. 64.
The uncleanly modes of Tartar eating impressed medieval travellers as much as the moderns: ‘And after they have eaten, or even whilst in the middle of their eating, they lick their fingers with tongue and lips, and wipe them on their" sleeves, and afterwards, if any grease still remains upon their hands, they wipe them on their shoes. And thus do the folk over all those countries, including western and eastern Tartars, except the Hindus, who eat decently enough, though they, too, eat with their
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THE CHINESE YEAR, P. 65.
THE CHINESE YEAR, P. 65.
The author's account of this matter is far from exact. There are 12 ‘moons’ or months in the ordinary year. These are some of 29 and some of 30 days, not alternating, but regulated by certain fixed rules, and the common year consists of 354 or 355 days. This, to keep the yearin accordance with the sun, demands ‘the frequent intercalation of an extra ‘moon ;’ and of such intercalary moons there are 7 in 19 years. Thus, in 7 years out of 19 the year has 13 months, The year of 13 months consists of
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THE MONGOL ALPHABET. P, 67.
THE MONGOL ALPHABET. P, 67.
So far as we know the earliest character employed by the, Mongols for writing their own language was that which they borrowed from the Uighur Turks of the Kash- gar country. This was the character commonly used in the chancery of Chinghiz-Khan and his immediate successors, ‘This, Uighur character had been borrowed from the old Syriac; and as we find names in Syriac upon the famous Christian monument of Singanfu (A.D. 781), there can be little doubt that it had been introduced into Eastern Turkes
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THE OBO. P. 76.
THE OBO. P. 76.
Of the Odo, or sacred cairn of the Lamas, probably a relic of their primeval superstitions, a representation is given in Kircher's account of the journey of Grueber and Dorville, who characterise it thus: ‘ Trophza qua in summis montium cum adoratione magno Lama diriguntur, pro conservatione hominum et equorum.’?...
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TSAGAN BALGAS. P. 106.
TSAGAN BALGAS. P. 106.
The Tsagar Balgassu, noticed in Mr. Morgan's footnote, is a different place, being the Clhagan-nor of Marco Polo, some 45 miles NW. of Kalgan. Chaglhan Balghassun, or ‘White Town, is a term applied by the Mongols to all royal residences.! The place mentioned in the text was on the banks of the Shandu(or Shangtu-) gol, immediately north of the town of Dolon-nor ; and one at first supposes that it must’ have been Kublar’s famous summer palace of * Xanadu’ or Shangtu, which almost occupies sich a p
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SHAMBALING. P. 253.
SHAMBALING. P. 253.
Shambhala; called in Tibetan bd&hdyung, vulgo deJung (‘origin of happiness’), is a fabulous country in the north, the capital of which was Kélapa, a very splendid city, and the residence of many illustrious kings of Shambhala. It was situated beyond the Sita River, and the augmentation of the length of the days from the vernal equinox to midsummer amounted to twelve Indian hours (gharis), or four hours forty-eight minutes. The Sita is one of the four mighty rivers of the Hindd mythologic
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"TRAVELS IN MONGOLIA. IL RETURN TO KALGAN.
"TRAVELS IN MONGOLIA. IL RETURN TO KALGAN.
Departure from Din-yuan-ing-—Iilness of Pyltseff—Salt lake-bed of Djaratai-dabas—Mode of obtaining salt-Kara-narin-ula mountains— Route through the Urute country-«Ascent of plateau-— Excessive cold; snow-storm--Sufferings of animals—Descent to the Hoang-ho—Incursions of Dungans—Hostility of Chinese officials — Chinese soldiers — Old river bed —Wintering birds; pheasants—Tea-drinking—Border range—Rejoin outward track— Buying argols— Temperature inside tent—Shireti-tsu—Loss of all our camels—Awkwa
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IL RETURN TO ALA-SHAN.
IL RETURN TO ALA-SHAN.
Start for Peking— Packing collections—New outfit ; rifles ; revolvers— Merchandise—Fresh Cossacks—Trial of guns—Effect on the inhabitants—Mongol dog ‘ Karza ’—Water barrels— Departure from Kalgan—Late spring—Migration of birds—To the Munni-ula— Spring vegetation—Leave for the Hoang-ho—Rice fields-—Shooting carp—Unattractive valley—Sandy borders of Ala-shan and its vegetation—Inanimate nature—Envoys from the prince—Arrival at Din-yuan-ing—The Czar’s officer—Trafficking—Favourable opportunity to p
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TIL THE PROVINCE OF KAN-sU.l
TIL THE PROVINCE OF KAN-sU.l
First sight of Kan-su—Marginal range— Ta-yi-gu -Sung-shan— Abundance of water—Ruined villages—A false alarm—Harsh treatment of prisoner—Gold washings—Profusion of vegetation— Another adventure—Randzemba and the breech-loaders—Mystery explained— Temple of Chertinton; its superior or abbot—We leave our camels and horses—The Rangtu-gol—Cultivated and thickly-populated plain—The Taldi—The temple of Chobsen ; its images and idols ; its militia garrison—Aurrival at Chobsen— Drying the collections—Stag
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IV. THE TANGUTANS AND DUNGANS.
IV. THE TANGUTANS AND DUNGANS.
Tangutan terrltory—The people—Characteristic traits—Stature ; appearance ; mode of wearing hair-—Kara Tangutans—Language ; dress ; habitations—Black tents and wooden huts—Occupations— The domesticated Yak—Its different uses—Nomadising habits— Contrast between Mongols and Tangutans—Industry ; food ; dirt— Tonkir, a trade centre—Avarice—Polite customs--Monogamy— Religion—Government—Dungans or Mahommedan rebels—Their temporary success—Chinese towns fall into their hands—Revolt becomes brigandage—Op
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V. KOKO-NOR AND TSAIDAM.
V. KOKO-NOR AND TSAIDAM.
The lake—Colour of its waters—Island and temple—Fish—Legendary origin of lake—Its shores—Birds—Animals—The Kulan or wild ass—Eleuth Mongols—Low standard .of civilisation—Kara-Tangutans—Their predatory habits -Mongol tradition concerning them-—Administrative divisions of Koko-nor—We buy fresh camels —Tibetan envoy—Favourable opportunity of reaching Lhassa lost —We determine to advance—Guides—Temple of Kumbum and its sacred tree—Tibetan medicine—Route along shore of lake— Ponhain-gol—Huc’s account
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VL NORTHERN TIBET.
VL NORTHERN TIBET.
The Burkhan Buddha mountains ; the effects of a rarefied atmosphere —M. Huc’s ‘vapours of carbonic acid gas’—The Nomokhun stream-—The Shuga mountain range and river—Tibetan frontier --The Urundushi mountains—Sources of the Hoang-ho, and pilgrimage thereto—The Baian-kara-ula range-——Character of the desert plateaux of Tibet—Extraordinary exhaustion producdd by exertion at high altitudes—Caravans to Lhassa—Time occupied on the journey—Dangers and hardships of the road—Abundance of animal life — Ma
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VIL SPRING ON LAKE KOKO-NOR AND AMONG THE KAN-SU MOUNTAINS.
VIL SPRING ON LAKE KOKO-NOR AND AMONG THE KAN-SU MOUNTAINS.
Return to Tsaidam—Influence of its warmer climatesSpring in Tsaidam—Migratory birds — Spring in Koko-nor— Mirages — Shooting excursions—Fishing—Thaw on lake—Scarcity of birds Departure for Chobsen—Equipment of caravan—Sale of rgvolvers —Humidity of Kan-su—Slippery mountain paths—Fording the Tatung-gol—Encounter with f Kotens —First signs of spring— Night frosts—Gales— Atmospheric phenomena—Tardy vegetation —The great rock-partridgeé (eiliZ)—The snow-vulture; how to shoot it— Heavy snowfall May i
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VIIL RETURN TO ALA-SHAN. ROUTE TO URGA BY THE CENTRAL GOBL
VIIL RETURN TO ALA-SHAN. ROUTE TO URGA BY THE CENTRAL GOBL
Departure from Ala-shan—Nearly lost in the desert—A dilemma— We follow the wrong road—A night of suspense—Looking for landmarks—The ‘obo ’—Water at last !—Meeting with pilgrims— Din-yuan-ing—Letters from home—Excursion to Ala-shan mountains—Their changed appearance—Their flora and fauna—Sudden flood—Collections endangered— Caravan re-organised—Start for Urga—Terrible heat—Guide at fault—Death of Faust’—Desperate situation—Saved—Grief at the loss of our dog— Route across the Gobi—Urute country —
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NOTES.
NOTES.
Tue following Note, translated from the Russian, purports to be an extract from the Diary of a Chinese Exile at Urumchi. Although this place is only incidentally mentioned in the preceding narrative, I have nevertheless thought it worth while inserting, the more so, because, from a letter lately received from Colonel Prejevalsky, I learn that-his next expedition, to start in March 1876, will be directed to the Eastern Thian Shan and Kuldja, whence he will try to penetrate to Lob-nor and Northern
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SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES.
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES.
THE TALDL P. 69-70. IT is obvious that the passage of Palladius which Mr. Morgan has translated in the footnotes bears no very clear reference to the 7aldi of Col. Prejevalsky. Mr. Ney Elias remarks on his account of them as follows :— * The description of these people, as also the locality in which they occur, corresponds closely with Huc's account of the race he calls Dchialours. The name of Dalde! may certainly have suffered in copying or printing, but I can find no approximation to it in any
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Chang-kia-kou, see Kalgan
Chang-kia-kou, see Kalgan
Chebayefl Pamphile, a Cossack, ii. 25, 67 Cheng-ta-fu, district of, i. 85, 103 Chertinton temple, ii. 67, 76, 83, 96, 233, 242 Chihli, see Pechihli Chinese mob, i. 150 seg., 176 seg. Chinese swindling, i. 37 Chinese year and cycle, i. 278 seg. Chinghiz-Khan, his sepulchre, i. 16, 181, 20%; traditions concerning, 167, 194, 203, 216, 221, 279 ; ii. 302 Chingtu-fu, ii. 306 Chobsen, temple of, ii. 38 seg., 47, 58, 67 seg., 70 segg.; militia at, 65, 72, 98 ; arrival at, 73, 98; dangerous position at,
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their observa- -
their observa- -
Grosvenor, Hon. T., xxi Grueber and Dorville, i. 282, 283 Guchin-gurbu sand hills, i. 107, seq. Gudir, a saline efflorescence, i C122; il 227 Guibourt, French pharmacologist, referred to, ii. 85, 204 Gungir-gol R., i. 109 . Gurbu-naidji, Snowy Mts., ii. 182 Guressu gadary, Mongol name for Northern Tibet, ii, 180 . Gushi-Khan, prince of Mongolia, «ii 152 i Gwan-kau pass, i. 45 : Gps Himalayensis,see Snow Vulture * " "ADAKI, Khala (scarves), "interchange of, i. 73, 280 seq. ; ii 121 Halicetos Mace
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102; his
102; his
Koshungs, or territorial divisions, i. 84 seg, 144 Kosin lake, ii. 96 Kovalefsky, i. 273, 276; ii. 302 Kublai-Khan, i. 67, 106, 279, 280, 284 Kuen-lun range, ii. 182 Kuku-Khoto, xxii, i. 59, 85, 103, 133,144, 153,188; ii. 16 seg., 276, 280 seg., 290 Kuku-shili Mts., ii. 181 Kuku-yaman, sce Mountain Sheep Kulan, or wild ass, xxvii, il. 146 segq., 167, 168, 301 Kuliang Mt,, ii. 55 Kulja, ii. 276 Lo \ Kumbum, xiii, xxiv, i. 79; iL 155 seqq. Kumiss (farasum), i. 54, 276 Kunduling-gol R., ii. 13 Kung
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of the
of the
Maximovitch, Professor, ii. yg, 83, 294 Merchants, Russian, at Kalgan, is Mirch, ii. 2g0 Min R. ii, 306. Ming dynasty, i. 232 Mirage, ii. 280 Missionaries, Protestant, i. 35; Roman Catholic, 134-136 . Missions, Russian, at Peking, i. 3, 92; foreign, 74. Mohl, M. Jules, xi Mongolia, rate of travel in, i. 64; its boundaries, 83; divisions, 84 ; princes, 86 ; its population, 87 ; nobles, 88 Mongol, alphabet, i. 280; orientation, 277 , Mongols, Chinese impositions on, i. 37; their. costume, 49; uncl
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RH 00085276
RH 00085276
Pyeie I: J x cy t IIN . Digitized with financial assistance from the Government of Maharashtra on 18 July, 2018 RT YEE Pa) be...
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