.

We now proceed to exhibit some traits of Tartar character, as
developed in their intercourse with their Asiatic brethren. As usual,
a horseman overtakes or meets the travellers; and after the customary
salutations, the missionaries inquired why he and his brethren did not
cultivate corn, instead of allowing every field to run to grass.

'We Mongols,' replied this stranger, 'are formed for living in tents,
and pasturing cattle. So long as we kept to that in the kingdom of
Gechekten, we were rich and happy. Now, ever since the Mongols have
set themselves to cultivating the land, and building houses, they have
become poor. The _Kitats_ (Chinese) have taken possession of the
country: flocks, herds, lands, houses--all have passed into their
hands. There remain to us only a few prairies, on which still live
under their tents such of the Mongols as have not been forced by utter
destitution to emigrate to other lands.'

'But if the Chinese are so baneful to you, why did you allow them to
penetrate into your country?'

'We took pity on these wicked Kitats, who came to us weeping, to
solicit our charity. We allowed them, through pure compassion, to
cultivate a few patches of land. The Mongols insensibly followed their
example, and abandoned the nomadic life. They drank the wine of the
Kitats, and smoked their tobacco on credit; they bought their
manufactures on credit, at double the real value. When the day of
payment came, there was no money ready, and the Mongols had to yield
to the violence of their creditors houses, lands, flocks, everything.'

'But could you not seek justice from the tribunals?'

'Justice from the tribunals! That is out of the question. The Kitats
are skilful to talk and to lie. It is impossible for a Mongol to gain
a suit against a Kitat. Sirs Lamas, the kingdom of Gechekten is
undone!'

After-experience amply corroborated the truth of these statements.
'The commercial intercourse between the Tartars and the Chinese is
revoltingly iniquitous on the part of the latter. So soon as the
Mongols arrive in a trading town, they are snapped up by some Chinese,
who carry them off, as it were, by main force to their houses, give
them tea for themselves, and forage for their horses, and cajole them
in every conceivable way. The Mongols take all they hear to be
perfectly genuine, and congratulate themselves--conscious, as they
are, of their inaptitude for business--upon their good-fortune in thus
meeting wi