From somewhere in the distance came the low rumble of a pack of wolves, punctuated at intervals by the sharp individual barking that a favorable gust of wind threw up into high staccato.
As we lay by the fire, the Soyot came over to me and said: "Noyon, come with me to the obo.

I want to show you something." We went there and began to ascend the mountain.

At the bottom of a very steep slope was laid up a large pile of stones and tree trunks, making a cone of some three metres in height.

These obo are the Lamaite sacred signs set up at dangerous places, the altars to the bad demons, rulers of these places.

Passing Soyots and Mongols pay tribute to the spirits by hanging on the branches of the trees in the obo hatyk, long streamers of blue silk, shreds torn from the lining of their coats or simply tufts of hair cut from their horses' manes; or by placing on the stones lumps of meat or cups of tea and salt.
"Look at it," said the Soyot.