MONGOLIA, China, a vast northern cen tral and eastern colonial territory, between lat. 35° and N., and long. 82° and 123° E, bounded on the by Asiatic Russia, east by Manchuria, south by China proper, and west by Suagaria and East Turkestan; estimated area, about 1,367,600 square miles.
The central portion, nearly a fourth of the whole, is occupied by the Desert of Gobi, art extensive sandy plateau, with a few spots of pasture and brushwood. Other parts are inter sected by lofty granitic chains, the principal of which are the Altai, the Thian-shan, the Khing han, and the In-shan. The largest rivers are in the north the Salenga. in the south the Shira muren, and in the west the Irtish. The climate presents the opposite extremes of intense win ter cold and summer heat. Agriculture is but little developed, and that only in the south on the borders of China proper; cattle raising, a few domestic industries and the transportation of goods are the chief occupations of the in habitants. There is a considerable transit trade with Russia and China; the principal commer cial centres are Kuku-Khoto, Kalgan, Biru Khoto, Dolon-nur, and Kuku-erghi, in southern and southeastern Mongolia; Kerulen in the northeast, Kobdo, Uliasutai and Urga, in the northwest. Urga is the principal town, a popu lous frontier emporium for the caravan trade across the Gobi Desert from China to Kiakhta, Siberia, 170 miles to the north and 100 miles east of Lake Baikal. The chief exports are wool, skins, hides, furs, horns, etc., to an annual value of nearly $5,000,000; while the varied im ports amount in value to $7,800,000 annually. The population is estimated at about 2,600,000, divided into tribes chief of which are; (1) the Khalkas, or Mongolians properly so called, who occupy the entire north of Mongolia; (2) the Ouryantai and the Darkhat, who are Mongo lized Turks; (3) the Ordos of pure Mongolian blood; (4) the eight tribes of the Tsaktar, of Mongolian blood.
The Khalkas are divided into four "aimaks," or principalities, the creation of which, it is said, dates hack to Genghis-Khan. These are
Toucheton, Tsetsen, Sain-Noin, and Tsatsatkou. Each aimak is divided into which are subdivided into Such distribu tion of the territory is very ancient.
Although the Mongolians are vassals of China they govern themselves. In each admin istrative subdivision there is elected a chief, whose election is ratified by the Chinese govern ment, and who receives from Peking a title of honor of slight importance, along with a button or peacock's feather for his cap. At Urga, the seat of the Bogdo Khan the Mongolian prince in charge (theoretically) of the administration of the affairs of the Khalkas has for adjunct (theoretical) a Manchu envoy, the aamban,* who is really the master of the situation; and the decisions made in common (or that are sup posed to be) by the two exalted persons are those dictated by the amban, that is to say, the Peking government.
The Khalkas are nomads, but only relatively so. Within the limits of their hoshun and suinnn they periodically shift their quarters in search of °pastures new" for their herds of camels, horses and sheep, but they never travel very far, and it is always possible to find an encampment within a radius of a few miles.
They live under the "yourte,* which consists of a light circular framework covered with pieces of felt. The form is that of a dome sup ported by a small sub-basement, and about 10 feet in height. In order to render it habitable, it suffices to cover it with pieces of felt and close the central orifice above with a movable piece of the same material. Through this orifice the smoke of the spot d feu" escapes. The fire place is situated in the centre of the abode, the household gods are placed opposite the door, and the housekeeping utensils are arranged along the walls. Around the fireplace are spread out, in lieu of seats, pieces of felt, for which the well-to-do substitute carpets. The princely yourtes are furnished with board floors and decorated with silken hangings.