R U S S r A A N D C e I N A. 2ii 



Sloboda) and alfo Naimatfchin, which is a corruption of 

 Maimatfchin. It is fituated about an hundred and forty- 

 yards South of the fortrefs of Kiachta, and nearly pa- 

 rallel to it. Midway between this place and the Ruflian 

 fortrefs, two pofts about ten feet high are planted in 

 order to mark the frontiers of the two empires : one is 

 infcribed with Ruffian, the other with Maniliur cha- 

 radters *. 



Mainatfchin has no other fortification than a wooden 

 wall, and a fmall ditch of about three feet broad ; the 

 latter was dug in the year 1756,^ during the wtir be- 

 tween the Chinefe and the Calmucs.. The town is of 

 an oblong form : its length is feven hundred yards,, 

 and its breadth four hundred. On each of the four 

 fides a large gate faces the principal ftreets ; over each 

 of thefe gates there is a wooden guard-houfe for the 

 Chinefe garrifon, which confifts of Mongols in tattered 

 clothes, and armed with clubs. Without the gate, which 

 looks to the Ruffian frontiers, and about the diftance of 

 eight yards from the entrance, the Chinefe have raifetl 

 a wooden fcreen, fo conftrudled as to intercept all view 

 of the ftreets from without^ 



* Upon the raounrain to the Weft of KracHta, the limit is agarix 

 marked, on the Ruffian fide by an heap of ftones and- earth, ornamented 

 on the top with a crofs ; and oa the Chinefe by a pile of ftones ia the 

 fliape of a pyramid. Pallas Reik, P. III. p. no. 



This 



