The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-13
GREAT COBB DESERT
OPEN TO TOURISTS
Dreaded Land Of MongOl No
MAIDS Made Accessible to
Automobiles.

Midway between PeSin, China, and
Irlutsk, Siberia, in the heart OF the
Monaghan plateau. lies the Cobb, a sand
swept desert, arid, void Of vegetation
desolate. On the outer fringes of this
desert and beyond roam the Mongol no
MAIDS, whose warlike spirit, peculiar Gus
toms. picturesque garb and superb horse
manship have given them prominent
Mace in the history and romance of the
world.
To cross the Cobb, until recently. was
generally regarded as a great adventure
AN undertaking only for the brave, the
strong and foolhardy, and the successiul
negotiator usually emerged a hero in the
ewes of less venturesome and seasoned
travellers.
The monopoly to personal experience
stories related by venturesome traVel-
lers who braved the hafdships and dan
gers of a caravan trip across the Cow
desert is a thing of the past, for any
one with $40 gold, the price Of the trip,
and desire for adventure, can now
board a Buick automobile at Kalgan and
be safely landed at Urga, the capltal OF
Mongolia. five days later. The Chinese
Railway Commission, after numerous ex-
periments with cars OF dinerent makes
recently placed into operation between
Kalgan and Urga thirty-fve Buick motor
cars, and their operation has peen SO
successful and profitable that sixty-nve
more cars were ordered and Will soon De
placed in service.
Starting at Kalgan. which may be
rea ched by railway from Pekin. the mo-
tor train traverses most difhcuit
stretch of rough, rocky. mountainous
passes. Rapid travel Is impossible. for
in addition to the poor condition OF the
narrow trails the road leading to the
Monaghan plains rises 1900 feet In less
than thirty miles.
Vast Basin OF Sand.
After reaching the top Of the plateau.
about thirty miles from kalgan' the
country develops into vast taolelano'
These rolling plains give way. near Ia
hill, to a chain of barren hills. three 10
four hundred feet high, and then vast
stretches Of rolling plain, devoid of wells
ana without sign OF life. except that In
troduced by the travelling caravans, are
encountered.
Between Pong iong and Udde,
distance Of about two hundred and sixty
miles from Kalgan, a descent Is maze
into an immense basin OF sand' the
desert of Cobb Here travel Is exceed
inRly difficult The car wheels are often
almost buried in the loose, hot sand.
and the friction developed by the churn-
ing wheels burns up the tires very
rapidly.
From Tuerin to the end Of the route
the roads are good, and the 15b miles
, between this point and Urga offer little
Y any difficulty to motor transport
except the fording of the To-La River,
Vol nd a
miles from Urga-
The natural difficulties and discom-
forts of travel over this route are in
creased by the hot winds, frequent sand
storms and the lack of suitable drinking
| water. Except In the Cobb desert fresh
water wells are found at distances OF
| twenty TO twenty-five miles, but the
water Is frequently unit for drinking
because cattle and camels bathe in the
pools of water surrounding the wells and
poor drainage permits this stagnant
water to seep back into the wells.
Monaghan "yourtes," or inns, have
been established at intervals along the
route. Two inns are provided at each OF
the four rest stations--the complete
journey requires five days-one for the
passengers the others for the native
drivers. The days journey usually be-
gins at sunup and lasts until dark, with
an hours rest for lunch While the
days. except during the winter season,
are dry and hot, the nights are exceed
ingly cold. and night travel is imprac-
| ticable
Along the route caravans are con-
stantly being met with-great trains Of
, camels and ponies, or bullock carts. all
fully laden. Hides. wool and other prod
ucts from Siberia are conveyed by this
route to Pekin and Tientsin. and the
large tea caravans from Pekin pass
through Urga on their way to Siberia
Home of the Giving God"
Large herds OF antelope are found on
| both sides OF the Cobb. These graceful,
| speedy animals can easily outrun a mo-
| tor car In this difficult country. Great