то THE ADVANTAGE OF OUR INTERCOURSE. 149 



The first of these, cattle, is the most important 

 of the three, because it is so intimately connected 

 with their well-being; and on this account, when 

 meeting one another the first enquiries are always 

 after the health of the flocks and herds, that of the 

 master and his family coming next. 



Medicine is another everyday subject of conver- 

 sation with them, and they delight in hearing of 

 cures performed. At the sight of a European, who 

 is regarded in the light of a demigod, or at least as 

 a great magician, the Mongol at once endeavours to 

 derive some benefit from so extraordinary a person, 

 and to learn from him some secret cure for his ail- 

 ments. My collection of plants and herbs persuaded 

 the inhabitants still further that I was a doctor, and 

 I afterwards actually established a reputation as 

 such from some cures I made in bad cases of fever, 

 by administering doses of quinine. 



The religious persuasions which underlie the 

 whole current of the nomad's life, but are quite 

 incomprehensible in themselves, rank next in the 

 order of his intellectual ideas. He will never lose 

 an opportunity of talking about the ceremonies of 

 his religion, the miracles performed by the gigens, 

 &c. &c. ; his fanaticism is apparent in all these dis- 

 cussions, and he never for a moment wavers in his 

 faith. 



My transformation from a merchant to an official 

 was of great advantage to us, for we Avere now inde- 

 pendent of the natives, whereas in our assumed 

 character of traders this was impossible. With such 



