at the king would not permit the Kitats to
live any longer in the country; and that they must leave it before the
first day of the eighth moon. Three Taitsi rode off to present the
ordonnance to the Kitats. They made no answer to the three deputies, but
said amongst themselves, 'The king desires us to go; very well.'

"Afterwards we learned that they had assembled and had resolved to
disobey the orders of the king and to remain in the country, in spite of
him. The first day of the eighth moon arrived, and they still occupied
calmly their habitations, without making any preparation for departure.
In the morning, before daybreak, all the Tartars mounted their horses,
armed themselves with their lances, and drove their flocks and herds upon
the cultivated lands of the Kitats, on which the crop was still standing:
when the sun rose, nothing of that crop was left. All had been devoured
by the animals, or trodden down. The Kitats yelled and cursed us, but
the thing was done. Seeing that their position was desperate, they
collected, the same day, their furniture and agricultural implements, and
went off to settle in the eastern parts of the Ortous, at some distance
from the Yellow River, near the Paga-Gol. As you came through
Tchagan-Kouren, you must have met on your route, west of the Paga-Gol,
Kitats cultivating some pieces of land; well, it was they who inhabited
this defile, and excavated all these caves."

Having finished his narrative, the Tartar went out for a moment and
brought back a small packet, which he had left in the cavern, where he
had passed the night. "Sirs Lamas," he said on his return, "I must
depart; but will you not come and repose for a few days in my dwelling?
My tent is not far hence; it is behind that sandy mountain which you
perceive there towards the north. It is at the utmost not more than
thirty lis off." "We are much obliged to you," answered we. "The
hospitality of the Mongols of Ortous is known everywhere, but we have a
long journey before us; we cannot stop on our way." "What are a few
days, sooner or later, in a long journey? Your beasts cannot always be
on their feet; they need a little rest. You yourselves have had much to
endure from the weather of yesterday. Come with me; all will then be
well. In four days we shall have a festival. My eldest son is going to
establish a family. Come to the nuptials of my son; your presence will
bring him good fortune." The Tartar, seein