Across the Roof of the World. 



had swollen considerably and were full of a yellowish watery 

 matter, which I was able to release with tlie aid of a needle the 

 good Bai brought me. 



In the meantime I had to complete arrangements for reaching 

 Zaisan, so sent my card to the Ching Sai's Yamen with a polite 

 request that he would provide me with a passport covering the 

 country between Shara Sumbe and the Siberian frontier, as 

 although the Peking passport enabled me to travel anywhere 

 within the boundaries of the Chinese Empire, further credentials 

 from the leading Chinese authority of that portion of the Empire 

 were essential, since Peking is far distant to the nomad way 

 of thinking, and he has respect only for those in immediate 

 authority over him. 



I was, of course, unable to ride, so arranged with Haji Ismail 

 Bai to hire an old Russian tarantass he possessed for the journey 

 to Zaisan, and also purchased horses and engaged a man as 

 driver. The tarantass was in a bad state of repair, old and 

 creaky, and it took two days to prepare it for the rough roads 

 it would have to traverse to the Siberian frontier. 



The Chinese doctor visited me again before I left and 

 seemed much hurt on learning his remedies had had no effect, 

 whilst I daresay my remarks as to his medical skill were not such 

 as to send him away elated at his professional skill. The frost- 

 bitten parts were in a very bad state, and layers of cotton 

 wool had to be constantly applied to absorb the yellowish water 

 and matter percolating therefrom. 



388 



