Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 1 (1876).djvu/314

 of Kan-su. The Chinese call this town Wa-yang-pu, and the Mongols Alasha-yamen, i.e. place of government of Ala-shan.

Din-yuan-ing consists of a fortress with a mud wall a mile in circumference. At the time of our visit this wall was prepared to withstand a siege, and we could see stones and beams laid on the battlements in readiness for the enemy's attack. In front of the principal wall on the northern side three small mud forts were built surrounded with a palisade.

The prince himself lives within the fortress, where some Chinese shops and the barracks of the Mongol soldiery are situated. Outside the principal barrier several hundred houses formerly stood, but they were all destroyed by the Dungans, who were, however, unable to take the fortress. Everything outside the wall was destroyed, including the suburban palace of the prince, two-thirds of a mile from the town, standing in a small park. This park, which formerly contained ponds with water, looks like enchanted ground in comparison with the surrounding wilderness.

Such is the external appearance of the town of Din-yuan-ing. Let us now describe its inhabitants.

The most remarkable personage among them is of course the ruling prince, or, as he is called here, the 'Amban.' He ranks in the second class of