RUSSIAN MERCHANTS. 165 



Poor old fellow ! I heard afterwards he had 

 long been trying to wind up his concerns, and 

 that there was very little hope of his ever 

 accomplishing it. 



The New Year began with a heavy fall of 

 snow, and I was glad to be in such good quar- 

 ters, and determined not to move until the 

 weather cleared. 



During the day I had many visitors, amongst 

 them some Russian merchants. These traders 

 have a great advantage over ours, paying less 

 duty and having no difficulty in obtaining pass- 

 ports, which is due to the presence of a Russian 

 consul at Kashgar, who takes care that the 

 Imperial subjects have fair-play ; whereas our 

 people have no one to help them a subject 

 of surprise to the Chinese, who do not under- 

 stand why we neglect our own interests, they 

 having no objection to a resident British consul 

 in the country, either at Yarkand or Kashgar. 



I received the usual supplies from the Dotai 

 and Amban, with a message that when the 

 weather cleared they would call ; but as this 

 would involve a visit in return, I begged they 

 would not expose their persons to the inclem- 

 ency of the weather. The Aksakal brought me 



