THE CHINESE STATION. 397 



cold water, which flowed eastward through the tuif, into 

 a small lake. 



They were now so near the boundary of China that 

 Humboldt determined to pass over to Bate, the nearest 

 Chinese Mongolian post. It was situated on the Irstysch, 

 below Lake Saisan. As he had made known his wishes 

 at Buchtarminsk, a Cossack had been sent to Bate to an- 

 nounce his visit. There were two stations at this post, 

 one on each bank of the river. The left, or Mongolian 

 station, was occupied by Mongolian troops, the right, or 

 Chinese station, by Chinese troops; both were com- 

 manded by Chinese officers. Between these two stations, 

 on an island in the Irstysch, was a. Mongolian and Chi- 

 nese piquet, commanded by a captain of cavalry. Un- 

 like the rest of the soldiers, who lived in tents, this piquet 

 lived in houses. They superintended the fishery carried 

 on by the Mongols of the Chinese portion of the Irstysch, 

 and arranged the moderate duties on salt, payable to the 

 Chinese officers. During the winter, when there was no 

 fishing, the Mongolian part of the piquet returned to the 

 village of Krasnoyarsk, while the Chinese retired to the 

 town of Tschugutschask, south of Lake Saisan, and four 

 hundred and fifty versts from Buchtarminsk. 



The travellers visited the Chinese station first, and as 

 their arrival was expected, they found two tents prepared 

 for their reception. They were met at one of these tents 

 by the Chinese commander and two attendants. He 

 was a tall, thin, young man, arrayed after the fashion 

 of the Celestial Empire ; he wore a blue silk robe reach- 

 ing to his ancles, and the usual conical cap, adorned with 

 peacock feathers, which denoted his rank. His compa- 

 nions wore a similar dress, but had no feathers in their 



