Mr St John on the Mongols. 259 



figuration of their soil. It was not of native growth, and 

 never took firm root among them. They soon relapsed into 

 their original barbarism, and split into tribes, the number of 

 which constantly increased, whilst each claimed to be governed 

 by a descendant of the Khan Temugin. Meanwhile, however, 

 the Kootooktoo, the great Pontiff of Mongolia, gradually ex- 

 tended his influence with the increase of the Lamaic religion ; 

 so that, at the period of his voluntary submission to China, 

 he was enabled to carry with him a great part of the whole 

 population. At this very period it was calculated, by shrewd 

 observers, that, had the Mongols known their own strength, 

 they could once more have conquered, not only China, but the 

 Manchtis themselves, with the greatest facility. Instead, how- 

 ever, of refusing to submit to the yoke, the greater number — 

 I except, of course, the Sungarians, who made a bloody re- 

 sistance — ^yielded without a murmur ; whilst those who still 

 asserted their independence, contented themselves with con- 

 tinuing their predatory incursions, both on the Siberians and 

 Chinese, and assaulting the caravans that passed to and fro. 

 Their attacks were conducted in a very peculiar manner. It 

 was their custom to set fire to the grass round the camps, and 

 endeavour to burn out the travellers. They were often, how- 

 ever, too timid or too weak to follow up their attempts, and 

 their intended victims escaped with the loss of a tent or so, or 

 perhaps of a camel or a horse ; but tracts burnt up for the 

 space of two days' journey frequently exhibited the mischiev- 

 ous consequences of their proceeding. 



Since this time China has gradually consolidated her power ; 

 and her manners, considerably modified it is true, have been 

 adopted by the Mongols, who are now distinguished by gentle • 

 ness and docility ; whereas formerly they were ferocious, in- 

 tractable, cruel, and insolent. Martini remarks that they are 

 still subject to sudden outbursts of anger, in which case 

 neither their father nor their mother is safe from their wrath ; 

 but in general it is acknowledged that their character is good. 

 It is difficult to say, whether the beneficent precepts of the 

 Lamaic religion, or the influence and laws of China, have had 

 most share in the production of this marked change. At any 

 rate, certain it is that all travellers unite in asserting the 



