260 Mr St John on the Mongols. 



superiority of the character of the Mongols to that of their 

 fellow-subjects within the wall, who are equally submissive, 

 but far less kind and hospitable to strangers. This superi- 

 ority is strikingly evinced by the gratitude which the pastoral 

 people feel and express for the smallest present, whilst the 

 rapacity of the Chinese is never satisfied, and is so intense 

 that thankfulness for past favours is almost entirely swallowed 

 up by cravings after new. 



At the same time it must be remembered, that, in industry, 

 the Mongols are extremely deficient, whilst in this the Chinese 

 excel. The latter are averse to leaving a single foot of land 

 uncultivated ; whereas the former can scarcely prevail on 

 themselves to sow a little millet, barley, and wheat. This 

 has been accounted for by Timkowski in the following man- 

 ner : — ^" The sterility of the steppes obliges the Mongols 

 often to change their habitations. Always on the look out 

 for pasture, they are frequently obliged to pass the summer 

 in places very distant from their winter and spring encamp- 

 ments, and consequently to leave their cultivated fields for a 

 long time." But natural idleness has much to do with their 

 agricultural slovenliness. Even in those quarters, between 

 Kiakhta and Urga, for example, where wood and pasturage 

 abound, they neglect to prepare dwellings, or lay up provi- 

 sions for the winter, contenting themselves with carelessly 

 heaping up a few stacks of hay. Accordingly, when the snow 

 falls and the cold strengthens, their cattle are attacked by 

 disease, and perish in incredible numbers. The Lamas, on 

 the other hand, are active cultivators ; and the church lands 

 of Mongolia, instead of being, as in some of our colonies, im- 

 pediments to civilisation, might, if the people possessed any 

 of the necessary qualities, form nuclei for the successful ex- 

 ertion of agricultural industry. 



The portrait of the Mongols has been painted with various 

 colours. When they were objects of dread to the nations of 

 the earth, words could scarcely be found to describe their 

 hideousness ; and the pictures left of them are rather those 

 of devils than men. This prejudice has been imbibed by 

 Bory de St Vincent, who says they are the most hideous of 

 the human race, though he is of opinion that one of their 



