"Under the name of Calachan, Polo probably means the
summer residence of the Tangut kings, which was 60 li from Ning-hia, at
the foot of the Alashan Mountains. It was built by the famous Tangut king
Yuen-hao, on a large scale, in the shape of a castle, in which were high
terraces and magnificent buildings. Traces of these buildings are visible
to this day. There are often found coloured tiles and iron nails 1 foot,
and even 2 feet long. The last Tangut kings made this place their
permanent residence, and led there an indolent and sensual life. The
Chinese name of this residence was Ho-lan shan Li-Kung. There is
sufficient reason to suppose that this very residence is named (under the
year 1226) in the Mongol text Alashai nuntuh; and in the chronicles of
the Tangut Kingdom, Halahachar, otherwise Halachar apparently in the
Tangut language. Thus M. Polo's Calachan can be identified with the
Halachar of the Si hia shu shi, and can be taken to designate the
Alashan residence of the Tangut kings." - H. C.]
NOTE 3. - Among the Buraets and Chinese at Kiakhta snow-white camels,
without albino character, are often seen, and probably in other parts of
Mongolia. (See Erdmann, II. 261.) Philostratus tells us that the King of
Taxila furnished white camels to Apollonius. I doubt if the present King
of Taxila, whom Anglo-Indians call the Commissioner of Rawal Pindi, could
do the like.
