The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-10-06
In Mongolia Marriage Is in Hands of Tribal
Chie-Western Sense of Modesty Is En-
tirely Unknown in Land

| They are supposed to offer sacrifice at the
nearest temple and worship the family
ancestors while other members of her
clan hunt and tend the sheep
A peculiar thing about the Monaghan
shepherd Is that he rides on horseback
while attending his sheep. He con-
tinually but slowly circles about his
herd In order to keep them in a bunch.
Hanging at his back is a small felt bag
In which he puts newly dropped lambs.
The shepherd is the most striking crea-
ture Of these solitary plains. He rarely
speaks but huns one little song day in
and day out. as you say in English. He
mounts his horse at daybreak In the
morning and does not dismount until
late the following night when he goes
to sleep with his herd at night.
Much has been written about the
migratory habits of the Mongols. It has
been much exaggerated. They do not
wander aimlessly over their native
plains not knowing where they will be
Lext day. Migratory routes In this coun-
try have been marked for centuries and
followed faithfully. Each tribe has its
particular summer and winter feeding
ground. They move In circles. 1t takes
tribe about year to get around its
circle. move is made when the cattle
has eaten all the grass about camp.
This causes about one move every
month
To any person who intends visiting
Mongolia. ] would say, Beware the
dogs" Monaghan camps are filled with
the most vicious ours, and to strangers
they are as ravenous as wolves. The
natives themselves carry sticks to beat
them on with. The dog stick has
taken its place among the honored
things Of Monaghan life.
The first time o,,aat Of
Mongol chief I entered his tent with my
stick. saw that he was agitated
about something, but could not guess
1t for the life Of me- Suddenly my Chin
csc boy whispered to me. Leave the
stick outside" To enter a hosts tent
with your stick is as much as to say:
You are all dogs and / must have my
stick with me to protect myself from
you" Thereafter l always left my stick
without my hosts tent
How to Treat Host.
In this land Of many funny and an
Gent customs one is always liable to in
suit his host or hostess without know
ing IL. Thus / entered a wayside inn
and, having commented at length on the
weather with the head waiter. and told
him the latest news from Pekin and
Mukden, he deigned to ask my lordship
what I saw on his 'ifthy bill of fare
that / would like to imbibe through my
handsome face Being hungry / quick
ly ordered. The moment / started eat
ing all my fellow-diners looked at me
with a very disguised air. In moment
there was quite hustle. Ny good lit
tie Chinese boy helped me. however. He
whispered in my ear. "Hsia no ko ken
shen moa-' Stand. bow. offer all pres
ent TO partake- of your food. They will
refuse" / followed my boys advice and
in an instant l had atoned for my over
sight, or rather ignorance. Each person
stood. bowed, and refused my magnani-
nous offer with true Oriental circum-
This ceremony required shout
half an hour.
The rabbit hunt among these people is
a striking example of the unerring ac-
curacy with which they throw the club.
One day I saw about a dozen men riding
at the highest speed after drove of big
Siberian rabbits. Every little while a
short club would fly from the hand of a