EXCHANGE OF CIVILITIES 



i73 



was Daniel, and we forthwith engaged his services 

 for the Mongolian journey at the rate of twenty 

 roubles per month. In this manner our exchange 

 of civilities went through four stages before it was 

 finally comprehended on both sides ; thus Littledale 



jfeu*ai 



"we were met by half a dozen chinamen." 



spoke to me in English, which I translated into 

 Russian for Nicholas, who turned it into Kalmuk 

 for Daniel, who next translated it into Mongolian 

 Chinese for the boy, who eventually brought it to 

 the comprehension of the Kha in pure Pekin idiom. 

 Every sentence took about half an hour to go round, 

 which considerably lengthened the interview. Our 



