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again into the fatal corner, when the deadly noose 

 was to be hurled round the neck of the one we had 

 pointed out. Our baggage, ready to be loaded, was 

 scattered about on the ground round the enclosure, 

 and as soon as a horse was caught he was instantly 

 hobbled and converted into a pack-pony. Many 

 refused energetically this degrading work, and began 

 jumping and kicking for all they were worth till they 

 got rid of their unaccustomed burden. Renewed 

 trials often brought similar results, and the horse had 

 to be abandoned. All this delayed our departure 

 until midday, when at last success crowned our efforts. 

 1 must acknowledge that the very process of loading 

 seemed to be familiar to the Kalmuks, and was 

 carried through in a masterly way. Our interpreter, 

 Nicholas, was also thoroughly acquainted with the 

 job, probably owing to his practice with the numerous 

 caravans which pass through the country. I was 

 struck by this, in comparison with previous ex- 

 periences in other regions, the Caucasus, for instance, 

 where the art of loading a horse for a long march 

 and economising rope is far inferior. 



We bade farewell to the Ispravnik and Mr. Meyer, 

 who both kept urging us not to cross the Mongolian 



loo o 



frontier, where, we were assured, our escort would 

 refuse to follow us, and began advancing slowly to- 



