tune telling, predictions or other mysteries of a city of 60,000
Lamas. Simultaneously religious and political espionage was being
carried out. Just at this time many Mongols were arriving from Inner
Mongolia and they were continuously surrounded by an invisible but
numerous network of watching Lamas. Over the buildings around floated
the Russian, Chinese and Mongolian national flags with a single one of
the Stars and Stripes above a small shop in the market; while over the
nearby tents and yurtas streamed the ribbons, the squares, the circles
and triangles of the princes and private persons afflicted or dying
from smallpox and leprosy. All were mingled and mixed in one bright mass
strongly lighted by the sun. Occasionally one saw the soldiers of Baron
Ungern rushing about in long blue coats; Mongols and Tibetans in red
coats with yellow epaulets bearing the swastika of Jenghiz Khan and
the initials of the Living Buddha; and Chinese soldiers from their
detachment in the Mongolian army. After the defeat of the Chinese army
two thousand of these braves petitioned the Living Buddha to enlist them
in his legions, swearing fealty and faith to him. They were accepted
and formed into two regiments bearing the old Chinese silver dragons on
their caps and shoulders.

As we crossed this market, from around a corner came a big motor car
with the roar of a siren. There was Baron Ungern in the yellow silk
Mongolian coat with a blue girdle. He was going very fast but recognized
me at once, stopping and getting out to invite me to go with him to his
yurta. The Baron lived in a small, simply arranged yurta, set up in the
courtyard of a Chinese hong. He had his headquarters in two other yurtas
nearby, while his servants occupied one of the Chinese fang-tzu. When
I reminded him of his promise to help me to reach the open ports, the
General looked at me with his bright eyes and spoke in French:

"My work here is coming to an end. In nine days I shall begin the war
with the Bolsheviki and shall go into the Transbaikal. I beg that you
will spend this time here. For many years I have lived without civilized
society. I am alone with my thoughts and I would like to have you know
them, speaking with me not as the 'bloody mad Baron,' as my enemies call
me, nor as the 'severe grandfather,' which my officers and soldiers call
me, but as an ordinary man who has sought much and has suffered even
more."

The Baron reflected for some minutes and the