CHINESE IMPOSITIONS ON MONGOLS. n 



camels, the owner of some dozens of these animals 

 may gain a large profit ; but many carriers have 

 several hundred camels, and of course their earnings 

 are proportionately greater. One would suppose 

 that the Mongols would grow rich in this way, but 

 in fact it is otherwise, — hardly one of them taking 

 home a few hundred rubles, and almost all the 

 money passes into the hands of the Chinese. 



The latter impose upon the simple-minded Mon- 

 gols in the most scandalous way. On the arrival of 

 the autumn caravans, the Chinese ride out to meet 

 them, and invite the owners to stay with them. 

 Lodgings are given gratis, and every attention is 

 shown. The unkempt Mongol, to whom the 

 Chinese at any other time does not deign to speak, 

 now lounges on the couches of his host, the rich 

 merchant, who generally waits upon his guest in 

 person, and anticipates his slightest wish. The 

 Mongol accepts all this hospitality as genuine, and 

 authorises his host to settle accounts for him with 

 the merchant whose tea he contracts to carry. This 

 is exactly what is required by the Chinaman. On 

 receiving the money, always paid in advance, he 

 swindles his client in the most unconscionable way, 

 and then offers him first one and then another article, 

 charging double price for all. Part of the money is 

 then kept back for taxation and fees to officials, 

 and more is expended on entertainment, until the 

 Mongol takes his departure from Kalgan with a 

 mere fraction left of his large earnings. Some of 

 this, too, he is compelled to devote to religious uses, 



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