SOIL, CLI la ATE. ANO VECETATION. Except in the vicinity of the lakes and rivers, along the rich alluvial borderlands of the Khingan range, and the loess deposits north of Shansi and Chih li, the soil is poor and little agriculture is pos sible. In Southeast 31ongolia, where the average summer temperature is 77° F., indigo, cotton, opium, and rice are produced, as well as the usual cereals, while in Central Alongolia only small quantities of wheat, oats, buckwheat. and millet are grown. In the northwest agriculture is attempted only in the vicinity of the lakes and along the lower courses of the rivers. Win ter lasts for from six to eight months. and in December the mercury falls in sonic places to 30° F. below %Or°. The air is dry; cold northwest winds prevail; northeast winds bring moisture. south and southeast wind, dry heat. At Crga. tile capital, in latitude 4g° 20' N., longitude 30' E.. 600 miles north-northwest of Kalgan, the annual rainfall is only 9 inches, and the mean summer t tar F., and at iliansutni, in the northwest, 541)1) feet above sea-level, the July tettqwrature is 1;6' F. The snowfall is never great.
The fauna resembles that of Siberia, and is not extensive. It is richest in fur-bearing animals, as hares, foxes• sables, and squirrels, and there are deer. marmots. black bears, Kyang or tumult:tin goats, ounces. and wolves. wolves never run ill seldom attack uuat. and are far from brave. Droves of wild camels. ponies, asses. and mule, are found, and their young are sometimes captured. Among game bird, is the partridge. Except in the settled regions near China, and chickens are seldom seen. No encampment is COMpletV. 110WON'Or, without a pack of barking. eurrisli dogs. The cannel is t wo humped, but does not possess the water cells of the camels of the Arabian desert.
Ixot•snurs. Mongolia has no manufactures. The chief industry is the rearing of flocks and herds, and the breeding of horses. In the north west, and to a less extent elsewhere. hunting is
engaged in, and furs, skins. deers' horns. Me., form important articles of trade. Pelt and cer tain kinds of woolen goods are produced, and two kinds of silk are woven in the rich agrienl tural districts net-1)pied by the Chinese and the sedentary Mongols (i.e. the region between the desert and the Great Wall), whose trade is with North China. Trade centres chiefly in l'rga, Kohdo. Ivliassutai. and .11ainiaivhill. opposite the Russian town of Kiaklita (g40 miles north-north west of Kalgan (q.v.). also an important trade centre), and Kuku-koto, or Kwei-hwa-eh'ing. ar walled Chinese town near the great bend of the Yellow liver, and an important point of de parture for the trade with East Turkestan ml Ili. Other cities are Jehol ; Lama-miam 130 mill, northeast of Peking; Pa-K'ow. 60 mile. east by south of Jehol: Chi-fung-hien. ISO miles northeast of Jehol ; and Iiada. situated in latitude 42° 10' N, and longi tude 119° E. Trade is carried on mostly by barter, furs, woolen stuffs, Akins, sheep, camels, horses, etc., being exehanged for salt, timber, tea, silk, cottons, sugar candy, etc. Brick tea is the chief medium of exchange.
A very extensive and important transit trade passes through Mongolia from Peking. through Kalgan and Urga to Kiakhta in Siberia. tea being the chief commodity from China. This gives eon siderable employment to several of the tribes as conductors of the caravans, particularly the Su aids, who occupy the central portion of the Gobi, and thousands of camels are employed. Romls i.e. well-beaten tracks—abound, and run in all di rections, except in the sandy parts, and there are usually two or more to every important place, camels going one way and ox-carts another, de pending on the pasturage and the water. There are few cities or towns, the Mongols being for the most part tent-dwellers who usually eamp on one spot all winter, but move occasionally during summer to some suitable pasturage with in their own tribal limits.