to inspire us with confidence, and, on
the other hand, we placed but slight reliance upon the moral effect of
our long beards. It was necessary, however, to adopt a decided course;
the Tartar-Khalkhas urged us pressingly, assuring us of complete success.
Of the lookers on, disinterested in the matter one way or the other, some
told us that the opportunity was altogether eligible, and that we ought
by all means to avail ourselves of it; while others assured us that it
would be the extreme of imprudence to proceed, for that so small a party
would be inevitably eaten up by the Kolo; and that it would be far
better, as we were in no immediate hurry, to wait for the great Thibetian
embassy.

Now this embassy having only just quitted Peking, would not reach
Tang-Keou-Eul for fully eight months, a delay which it seemed absolutely
ruinous for us to undergo. How, with our modest means, were we to
maintain ourselves and our five animals for so long a time in an inn?
After maturely calculating and weighing everything: let us confide in the
protection of God, said we, and go forth. We announced our resolution to
the Tartars, who were highly delighted. We immediately requested the
host of the House of Repose to purchase for us four months' provision of
meal. "What do you want with four months meal?" asked the Tartars.
"They say the journey is of at least three months' duration, and it is
expedient, therefore, to provide for four months, to meet the chance of
accidents." "Ay, the Thibetian embassy occupies a long time on the
journey, but we Tartars travel in quite a different manner; we do the
distance in a moon and a-half at the very outside; we gallop the whole
way, so that we get over nearly 200 (twenty leagues) a day." This
intimation at once caused us to change our resolution. It was manifestly
quite impossible for us to keep up with this caravan. In the first
place, as to ourselves, never having been accustomed, like the Tartars,
to forced marches, we should have been dead in three days; and as to our
animals, weary and worn with four months incessant toil, they could not
have for any length of time borne up against the pace of our proposed
companions. The Tartars having forty camels could afford to knock up
one-half of them. Indeed, they themselves admitted that with our three
camels, it was impossible for us to undertake the journey with them, and
they accordingly advised us to buy a dozen others. The advice, exce