'In the winter of 1879-80 I set up a book-stall, with a Chinaman to
care for it, at the Outside Lodging, going myself, as a rule, every
second day. This winter I followed the example of the pedlars, and,
hanging two bags of books from my shoulders, hunted the Mongols
out, going not only to the trading places, but in and out among the
lanes where they lodged, visiting the Outside Lodging first and the
Inside Lodging later in the day. The number of Mongols outside the
city became latterly so small that it was not visited very often;
but during the Chinese eleventh and the first part of the twelfth
month, the number of Mongols to be met with at the Inside Lodging
was fair, and the number of books disposed of altogether, both
outside and inside the city, amounted to seven hundred and
fourteen.

'In many cases the Mongols, before buying, and not unfrequently
after buying, would insist on having the book read, supposing that
they got more for their money when they not only had the book, but
had me let them hear its contents. Of course I was only too glad to
have the opportunity of reading, which readily changed to
opportunity for talking; and in this way, from time to time, little
groups of Mongols would gather round and listen to short addresses
on the main doctrines of Christianity. Several men whom I accosted
seemed familiar with the name of Jesus, and had some knowledge of
Christianity. Some bought the books eagerly; some not only did not
buy themselves, but exhorted others not to buy; some openly spoke
against Christianity; but a great many of those who listened to an
address or took part in a conversation evinced interest in the
subjects spoken of, and remarked that salvation by another bearing
our sin was a reasonable doctrine. As the purchasers of these books
hailed from all parts of Mongolia, the tracts thus put into their
hands will reach to even remote localities in the west, north, and
east, and my prayer is that the reading of them may be the
beginning of what shall lead to a saving knowledge of the truth in
some minds. Hoping for some good result, I had my address stamped
on many of the books, to enable such as might wish to learn more to
know where to come.

'In some cases, Mongols wishing to buy books had no money, but were
will