OUR ARRIVAL THERE. 73 



riding up to the very Avails of the temple in defiance 

 of its badly-armed garrison. Four miles and a half 

 to the east of Chobsen, another mud wall similar to 

 the one on the borders of Kan-su, but even more 

 dilapidated by time, extends, as Ave were assured, 

 from Si-ning through Tatung to Kan-chau. 



On our arrival at Chobsen the late companions 

 of our journey welcomed us, and placed at our dis- 

 posal a large empty house, formerly used as a store 

 for idols. Here we spread out and dried our col- 

 lections, which had seriously suffered from damp. 

 But our occupations were constantly interrupted by 

 sightseers, whose curiosity was excited by our herbs, 

 &c., and it required all my prestige as a physician 

 to allay their suspicions. 



We stayed a week here preparing for an expedi- 

 tion to the mountains, where we intended passing 

 the summer. Our purchases included four mules 

 (for which we paid no lans), and a few small 

 articles, which we had great difficulty in obtaining, 

 owing to the stagnation of trade consequent on the 

 unsettled state of the country. The currency too 

 was very puzzling. Here a Ian (tael) of silver was 

 worth 6,500 cash ; there were two unit weights — one 

 being equal to sixteen lans, and another equal to 

 twenty-four ; in addition to the tu, the usual measure 

 of solids, a new one called the shiiig,'^ containing five 

 hings of dzamba or barley-meal, was introduced. 



At length everything was satisfactorily arranged, 



' The s/iiiig, one-tenth of a iit, is in general use in China, Ijut we 

 tirst saw it at Chobsen. [The tit is equal to 12 lbs. — M.] 



