OPENINGS FOR TRADE. 249 



In the meanwhile our proposed interview with 

 the old prince was postponed on various pretexts, 

 and before that event had taken place we could not 

 proceed to the mountains. The Lama Sordji and 

 other officials visited us every day, and we sold them 

 all our Peking ware at a profit of thirty or forty per 

 cent. The Russian articles (needles, soap, pocket- 

 knives, beads, snuff-boxes, looking glasses) realised a 

 far higher profit ; we certainly had not many of them, 

 but the few dozen rubles' worth remaining- of our 

 stock of these goods realised 700 per cent, more 

 than their cost price. Of course this is an excep- 

 tional case, but I think that if a regular trade were 

 established, not only here but throughout Mongolia, 

 it might become very profitable. Of course some 

 knowledge and experience are requisite to ascertain 

 what kinds of goods are in greatest demand. I 

 think the most important articles of export from 

 Russia would be woollen stuffs, cloth, and Russia 

 leather, which are even now exported to China in 

 considerable quantities. But perhaps the demand 

 for hardware, such as scissors, knives, razors, copper 

 vessels, iron saucepans, &c. would be even greater. 

 All these articles are indispensable for the domestic 

 life of the nomads, who now receive them, but of 

 very inferior quality, from China. Another article 

 of export might be yellow and red silk stuffs, such 

 as are worn by the lamas ; also coral, which is 

 highly prized in Mongolia, brocade, red beads, 

 needles, watches, snuff-boxes, looking-glasses, stereo- 

 scopes, pencils, and other small articles. One of 



