d more
practicable than the rest. At length we arrived, and before nightfall,
on the banks of the Yellow River, our passage across which was most
successfully effected. In the first place, the Mongol Tartars who rented
the ferry oppressed our purse less direfully than the Chinese ferry-men
had done. Next, the animals got into the boat without any difficulty.
The only grievance was that we had to leave our lame dog on the bank, for
the Mongols would not admit it on any terms, insisting upon the rule that
all dogs must swim across the river, the boat being destined solely for
men, or for animals that cannot swim. We were fain to submit to the
prejudice.

On the other side of the Yellow River we found ourselves in China, and
bade adieu for awhile to Tartary, to the desert, and to the nomadic life.

[Picture: Chinese Statue]

[Picture: Chinese and Tartar arms]

CHAPTER XI.

Sketch of the Tartar Nations.

The Tartars, descended from the ancient Scythians, have preserved to this
day the dexterity of their ancestors in archery and horsemanship. The
early part of their history is veiled in obscurity, enveloped as they are
by the wonders and prodigies of the exploits of their first conqueror,
Okhous-Han, who seems to be the Madyes of Herodotus. This illustrious
leader of the Scythian hordes carried his arms into Syria, and reached
even the confines of Egypt.

The Chinese annals frequently mention certain nomad tribes, which they
call Hioung-Nou, and which are no other than the Huns. These wandering
and warlike tribes gradually extended themselves, and finished by
covering the immense deserts of Tartary from east to west. Thenceforward
they made continual incursions on their neighbours, and on several
occasions made attacks on the frontiers of the empire. It was on such an
occasion that Thsin-Chi-Hoang-Ti had the Great Wall built in the year 213
B.C. About 134 B.C. the Huns, under the conduct of Lao-Chan, their
emperor, made an attack on the Tartars Youei-Tchi (the Getae), who dwelt
on the confines of the province of Chen-Si. After a series of long and
terrible conflicts, Lao-Chan defeated them, slew their chief, and made of
his head a drinking cup, which he wore suspended from his girdle. The
Getae did not choose to submit to the victors, and preferred going
elsewhere in search of another country. They divided into two principal
bands. One advanced towards