CUR BOXES INSPECTED J 225 



back again across the river in sight of my com- 

 panion. 



The following morning an official made his ap- 

 pearance accompanied by ten soldiers in full-dress 

 red blouses, and announced that he had been sent 

 to examine our things. The inspection began, but 



Mongol Soldier. 

 (From a Photograph lent by Baron Osten Sacken.) 



Avas so carelessly conducted that the surveying work, 

 which I had concealed at the bottom of one of my 

 boxes, safely escaped the ordeal. One circumstance 

 certainly favoured us, and that was the preparation 

 of our soup, out of which the soldiers kept con- 

 tinually stealing bits of meat to eat, an occupation 



VOL. I. Q 



