are discovered,
and those in a village held by Chinese subjects, and the thief be
captured, the punishment shall be prompt and severe. If the thing lost
be recovered, or any portion of it, it shall be restored to the person
to whom it belonged.

ARTICLE VII.

In the event of disputes, litigations, or other trivial incidents,
between the respective subjects, the Russian consul and the Chinese
official, of whom mention has previously been made, shall use all their
efforts to settle the affair satisfactorily. But if, despite every
effort to avoid such, a criminal case or one of general importance
should arise, it shall be decided conformably with the regulations
actually in force on the Kiachta frontier.

ARTICLE VIII.

Russian merchants shall arrive each year with their merchandise between
the 25th day of March and the 10th day of December (of our style, or
according to the Chinese calendar between the day Tchin-ming and the day
Tong-tchi); after the latter of these dates, the arrival of caravans
shall cease. If the merchandise imported during that period (8-1/2
months) should not be sold, it shall be permissible to the merchants to
remain a longer space in China, in order to complete their sale; after
which the consul shall take charge of their departure. It is moreover
understood that Russian merchants shall not obtain an escort of officers
and soldiers, neither for going nor for returning, if they have not at
the least twenty camels laden with merchandise. If a merchant or the
Russian consul has need for some special matter to send an express
message, every facility shall be accorded him for doing so. But in order
that the service of officers and soldiers should not become too onerous,
there shall only be twice in the same month these extraordinary
expeditions outside the line of the advanced guards.

ARTICLE IX.

Russian and Chinese merchants can see each other without restriction
about matters of business; but Russian subjects, finding themselves in
the factory under the care of the Russian consul, may not walk about in
the suburbs and the streets, unless provided with a "permit" from the
consul; without such permit, they must not go out of their enclosure.
Whoever shall go out without permission shall be led back to the
consul, who will proceed against him according to law.

ARTICLE X.

If a criminal belonging to either of the two Empires should flee to the
other, he shall not be afforded sanctuary; but,