KOBDO  , a

town of the Chinese Empire, in north-west Mongolia, at the northern foot of the Mongolian Altai, on the right bank of the Buyantu River, 13 M. from its entrance into Lake Khara-usu; 500 M . E.S.E. of Biysk (Russian), and 470 M . W. of Ulyasutai . It is situated amidst a dreary plain, and consists of a fortress, the residence of the governor of the Kobdo district, and a small trading town, chiefly peopled by Chinese and a few Mongols . It is, however, an important centre for trade between the cattle-breeding nomads and Peking . It was founded b'y the Chinese in 1731, and pillaged by the Mussulmans in 1872 . The district of KOBDO occupies the north-western corner of Mongolia, and is peopled chiefly by Mongols, and also by Kirghiz and a few Soyotes, Uryankhes and Khotons . It is governed by a Chinese commissioner, who has under him a special Mongol functionary (Mongol, dzurgan) . The chief monastery is at Ulangom . Considerable numbers of sheep (about . 1,000,0oo), sheepskins, sheep and camel wool are exported to China, while Chinese cottons, brick tea and various small goods are imported . Leather, velveteen, cotton, iron and copper goods boxes, &c., are imported from Russia in exchange for cattle, furs and wool .

The

absence of a cart road to Biysk hinders the development of this trade .