rticles of luxury and ornament, such as buttons, sables,
peacocks' feathers, etc. Each Wang of the first degree receives annually
2,500 ounces of silver (about 800 pounds), and forty pieces of silk
stuff. All the other princes are paid according to the rank they derive
from the Emperor. A Dchassak, for example, receives yearly one hundred
ounces of silver, and four pieces of silk.

There exist certain Lamaseries, termed Imperial, where each Lama, on
obtaining the degree of Kalon, is obliged to offer to the Emperor an
ingot of silver of the value of fifty ounces; his name is then inscribed
on the register of the imperial clergy at Peking, and he is entitled to
the pension given yearly to the Lamas of the Emperor. It is obvious that
all these measures, so calculated to flatter the self-love and avarice of
the Tartars, do not a little contribute to maintain their feelings of
respect and submission towards a government which takes such pains to
court their friendship.

The Mongols, however, of the district of the Khalkhas do not seem to be
much affected by these demonstrations. They only see in the Mantchous a
rival race, in possession of a prey which they themselves have never
ceased to desire. We have frequently heard the Mongol Khalkhas use the
most unceremonious and seditious language in speaking of the Mantchou
Emperor. "They are subject," say they, "to the Guison-Tamba alone, to
the _Most Holy_, and not to the black-man (layman), who sits on the
throne of Peking." These redoubtable children of Tchinggiskhan still
seem to be cherishing in their inmost heart schemes of conquest and
invasion. They only await, they say, the command of their Grand Lama to
march direct upon Peking, and to regain an empire which they believe to
be theirs, for the sole reason that it was formerly theirs. The Mongol
princes exact from their subjects or slaves certain tributes, which
consist in sheep, and here is the absurd and unjust regulation, in
accordance with which this tribute must be paid:

The owner of five or more oxen must contribute one sheep: the owner of
twenty sheep must contribute one of them; if he owns forty he gives two;
but they need give no more, however numerous their flocks. As may be
seen, this tribute really weighs upon the poor only; the wealthy may
possess a great number of cattle without being obliged to contribute more
than two sheep.

Besides these regular tributes, there are others which the princes