orated with the red, the other with the blue
button, alighted at the entrance of our dwelling. They asked for news of
the caravan of the King of the Alechans. We answered that we had met it
a long time since, that it must already be at a considerable distance,
and that it would doubtless arrive, before night, at the encampment of
the Hundred Wells. "As it is so," they said, "we would rather remain
here, than arrive by night at the Hundred Wells, at the risk of falling
into some hole. Tomorrow, by starting a little before day, we shall
reach the caravan."

No sooner said than done: the Tartars forthwith unsaddled their horses,
sent them off to seek their fortune in the desert, and without ceremony
took their seat beside our fire. They were all Taitsi of the kingdom of
the Alechan. One of these, he who wore the cap with the red button, was
the king's minister; they all three belonged to the great caravan, but
the day before, having started to visit a friend, a prince of the Ortous,
they had been left behind by the main body.

The minister of the King of Alechan had an open, frank character, and a
very acute understanding; he combined Mongol good nature with vivacious
and elegant manners, which he had no doubt acquired in his frequent
visits to Peking. He asked many questions about the country which the
Tartars call the Western Heaven, and informed us, that every three years
a great number of our countrymen, from the different western kingdoms,
rendered their homage to the Emperor at Peking.

It is needless to observe that, for the most part, the Tartars do not
carry very far their geographical studies. The west means with them
simply Thibet and some adjacent countries, which they hear mentioned by
the Lamas, who have made the pilgrimage to Lha-Ssa. They firmly believe
that beyond Thibet there is nothing; there, say they, is the end of the
world; beyond, there is merely a shoreless ocean.

When we had satisfied all the inquiries of the red button, we addressed
some to him about the country of the Alechan, and the journey to Peking.
"Every third year all the sovereigns of the world," said he, "repair to
Peking, for the feast of the new year. Princes who live near, are bound
to go thither every year; those who live at the extremities of the earth,
go every second or third year, according to the distance they have to
travel." "What is your purpose in going every year to Peking?" "We
ourselves go as the retinue