OUR TRAFFIC WITH THE MONGOLS. 147 



Our troubles with the Mongols were not limited 

 to the purchase of their sheep, which happened 

 rarely, in the first place, because we had to econo- 

 mise our slender resources, and in the second, that 

 they would be refused when we stood in need ; but 

 this last usually happened with the Chinese, who 

 wished to starve out of their country such unwelcome 

 guests. We lived too on what we could shoot, and 

 hares and partridges were so plentiful that we killed 

 more than enough for our wants. Unfortunately meat 

 would not keep at all in hot weather, and we some- 

 times fasted when game was not very abundant. 



While we adhered to our resolution to keep aloof 

 as much as possible from the inhabitants, we were 

 generally obliged to pitch our tent near them in order 

 to procure water, always preferring the neighbour- 

 hood of the Mongols. These people would come to 

 our tent and ask who we were, whither we were 

 going, and what we were selling. In my assumed 

 character of merchant I was obliged to receive them 

 whether I liked it or not, and to show them our wares, 

 which they would examine and then begin bargain- 

 ing. There was no end to their absurd questions. 

 For instance, one would ask if we had a mao-net for 

 sale, another wanted bears' gall, a third children's 

 toys, a fourth brass idols, and so on. Very often, 

 after about an hour's chat our visitors would tak^, 

 their departure without having bought anything, 

 declaring that it was all too dear. The Buriat Cos- 

 sack, who was clever at this sort of thing, had charge 

 of the trading ; but the trade did not advance ver)' 



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