SEARCH FOR LODGING. 175 



invited us in, and motioning to my companion and 

 myself to be seated {the Mongol and Cossack re- 

 mained standing), ordered tea to be handed, and 

 began questioning us on the object of our journey, 

 Avhence we had come, and Avhither we were going. 

 On my telling him of my Avish to travel through 

 Ordos into Ala-shan, he assured me that it was very 

 dangerous, for the country was infested with robbers. 

 Knowincr that nothinof can be done in China without 



о о 



a bribe, I turned the subject from our future journey, 

 and told the Cossack to interpret to the Mandarin 

 that I wished to give him a good Russian watch as 

 a keepsake. This at once produced an impression. 

 He pretended at first to decline the proffered gift, 

 but afterwards thanked me, and offered to give us 

 a safe conduct through Ordos. Overjoyed at this 

 turn of affairs, we made our adieux to the genera], 

 and begged him to order assistance to be given us 

 in finding a lodging. 



Escorted by several policemen, and followed by 

 a huge crowd which waited in front of the Man- 

 darin's house for us, we started in search of accom- 

 modation. 



The policemen entered one house after another, 

 and on being refused admittance, or, more correctly 

 speaking, on receiving a bribe from the owner, led 

 us further. At length we reached the house of a 

 merchant, where soldiers were billeted, and here after 

 a long altercation we were shown into a small and 

 inconceivably dirty apartment. In vain we offered 

 double payment for better rooms ; none were obtain- 



