248 QUESTIONS ABOUT EUROPE. 



gold ring to my companion, as keepsakes. Alto- 

 gether the Amban and his sons, especially the 

 two younger, were very well disposed towards us, 

 and were constantly giving us proofs of their good- 

 will. Every day they sent us baskets of water- 

 melons, apples and pears, from their garden, which 

 were the more appreciated after our long privations 

 in the desert ; the old prince once sent us a dinner 

 composed of numerous Chinese dishes of different 

 kinds. The Gigen and Siya accompanied us on 

 several shooting excursions, and we often passed 

 the evening with them, sometimes chatting till late 

 at night. Although it was difficult to keep up a 

 conversation through the medium of an interpreter, 

 we managed to pass our time pleasantly, and en- 

 joyed it the more because we escaped for a time, at 

 all events, the restraint imposed on us at our own 

 house. The young princes appeared quite at their 

 ease in our society, laughed and joked, and some- 

 times even played games or performed gymnastic 

 exercises. In the course of conversation Siya asked 

 many questions about Europe, and the life there ; 

 its people, machinery, railroads, telegraphs, &c. &c. 

 The accounts луе gave seemed fabulous to them, 

 and excited their desire to see with their own eyes 

 all the wonders we described ; they entreated to be 

 allowed to return with us to Russia. Sometimes 

 they showed us different European articles bought at 

 Peking and Kiakhta, such as revolvers, swordsticks, 

 musical boxes, watches, and even bottles of eau-de- 

 Cologne. 



