24б CURIOSITY OF THE PEOPLE. 



visited Kiakhta, where he became acquainted with 

 the Russians. 



Sordj'i was very useful to us, owing to his willing- 

 ness to serve us and the important position he held 

 in the town. Without him we might not have been 

 so well received by the prince and his sons. He 

 was one of the three persons sent out to meet us and 

 to enquire who we were, and he explained to the 

 prince of Ala-shan that we really were Russians and 

 no other kind of foreigners. Russian, however, is the 

 generic name applied to all Europeans by the Mon- 

 gols, with the affix French or English according 

 as they wish to designate either Frenchmen or Eng- 

 lishmen ; the nomads believe that the two last- 

 named nations are vassals of the Tsagan-Khan, i.e. 

 White Tsar. 



On entering Din-yuan-ing we were met outside 

 the town by an immense crowd of people who 

 followed us and filled every corner of the courtyard 

 in the Chinese inn where we were located. The 

 landlord of this inn was evidently displeased at our 

 lodging with him, and he was a long time in finding 

 the key of the house assigned for our use. At last 

 the key was found ; we unloaded the camels, carried 

 everything into the house, and soon after our meal 

 lay down to sleep, as it was late, and we were very 

 tired with our long march. The following day from 

 the early morning our rest was ciisturbed by the 

 inquisitive rascals, who invaded the yard, climbed on 

 to our house, and tore slits in the paper windows 

 through which to look at us. Our military guard 



