PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOURAEY. 93 



had travelled beyond the Great Wall in a westerly 

 direction. Our object was to strike the northern 

 bend of the Yellow River, visit the country of Ordos 

 and Lake Koko-nor, and, in fact, explore regions 

 almost entirely unknown to Europeans. We had, 

 therefore, to be guided by our instincts in equipping 

 ourselves with everything needful, and in deciding 

 upon the best means of travelling. 



Our winter journey from Kiakhta to Peking, fol- 

 lowed by a prolonged residence in the latter city, 

 convinced me that the only chance of success in 

 travellino; throuMi the secluded dominions of China 



о о 



lay in entire independence of the inhabitants, who 

 viewed with hostility every attempt of Europeans 

 to penetrate into the more remote regions of their 

 country. We tried in vain to find a Chinese or a 

 Mongol who would accompany us on our proposed 

 wanderings. The offer of liberal payment, the 

 promise of a large reward if the journey were suc- 

 cessful, and other tempting baits of this kind, failed 

 to overcome their distrust and cowardice; some at 

 first agreed to our proposals, but afterwards broke 

 their word. Seeing how impossible it was to depend 

 on such auxiliaries for a distant expedition like ours, 

 луе determined on buying camels and managing 

 them ourselves, with the assistance of two Cossacks 

 who were to accompany us. 



Having procured seven pack-camels and two 

 riding-horses, \ve proceeded to arrange the baggage 

 and take necessary supplies for a twelvemonth, as 

 this time we did not expect to reach Koko-nor. but 



