Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-25
IN THE DAYS NEWS
Monaotia.

Dispatches stating that China again will control Mongolia prompted the National Geographic society to issue the following bulletin:
 Mongolia is one of the most inter esting countries in the world today and also one of the most primitive" says the bulletin, which is based on a oornGnuniea ton to The Society from Ethan c. Le Munyon.
 "The inhabitants in many ways re- semble our own North American In dians. They have a written language are biindly devoted to the Buddhist re- ligion, and are very fanatical. The lamas or Buddhist monks. are the curse of Nonga!ia and are parasites living on the religious credulity of their lay brethren. Every third man in Mongolia is a Lama.
 "Tha highlands of Mongolia vary in altitude from 3.ea0 to $500 feet. There are many mountain ranges. and in very few pia cee is inc country level for any considerable distance. The word Gef,' ~eans a 'parren or desolate plain Vegetation is absent on the Gobi desert, with the exception of few eras sses. so that argol Cor dried camel l dunal is the only fuel used. It is col Iected ,a and stored i7 large quantities l itS ''NS Qbt liS "lliIEg
 l Water IS scarce, 2 few wells along 1 the caravan route furnishing the en- tire supply. During the winter and snring tbe camel is the only animal | that can cross the desert and slbsist on the dried up grasses. At this sea- san of the year blocks of ice are car | rie6 for the water supply, and at other sAa sons two large tubs are carried on each camel used for this purpose, one
 tuh on each side of the camel.
 "The medium of exchange is the Chinese tael Gan ounce of silveg) Sr2a1l squares or cuhes of pressed /, silk are also used hut brick tea will mass current for barter in any nart of
 Mongolia Tobacco is also used for this purpose. The trade is in the 1 hands of the Chinese with the excpp- fien of the Russian traders in Urga.
 There fs a Ruestau and a'sn a Chinese post office in Urga. Both maintain a pony expresE route across the Gobi; the time is days.
 'Mongols look on the dead in a diff ferent light fror, the Chinese, and
 their dead are taken just nltside the town and thrown down. The dogs sometimes those from their own tent and also others. soon make short work
 of the bodies: in q couple of hours
 nothing is left. The natives believe
 that the quicker this happens. the bet
 ter chance the spirit of the departed
 has in reaching Paradise.
 @9The Mongol is a great meat eater
 living in some cases entirely on nut
 ton. In comparing other foods. he vii
 ask if they are. as good as mutton. I
 is not uncommon for a Mengol to con sume 10 hounds of this meat at oni sitting. He puts mutton fat in his tea 7 which is prepared with milk from tn,
 brick tea (noorest grade pressed il
 brieks), and of this he drinks enor nous quantities: 90 cups per day il
 rot an uncommon amount for an adult
 There are no regular hours for eating
 inc native eats when opportunity of fers. Game is nnt common near Urga
 but many varieties are found in tn 3 mountains though hunting on Boel l Ol (Buddha's Mountain is prohibited "TIrga was formerly the residence 0
 a Chinese lieutenant governor, 0
 aI'ben. as ha Tas called. the repre- sentative of the Chinese government Since Mongolia declared herself in dependent OF China, early in ts1: T there has been no a.-1bap, the forane n one having fed. reasoning that he wa
 not needed.
 There are few reeular streets i 9 Urra. with the exception of the mai g thoroughfare. along which are lines C 2 pray yer wheels. which are sheltered I, 5 salall shanties or sheds. These ar
 turned by hand by the people wf
 wish to pray. Prayer flags float ove all tents and temples and snal!e praysr-wheels turn in the wind, whil gilt prayer wheels swing from th t roofs of the temples"
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