start Next day we were told that the unfortunate sailor was
beckoned to come hither from all parts of the ship.'

CHAPTER IV

THE FIRST CAMPAIGN IN MONGOLIA

In 1873 Gilmour resumed his visits to the Plain and on March 15 he was
at Kalgan, writing, 'No appearance of getting away to the north. I
promenade daily the streets and accost Mongols, but with no success as
to getting camels, or even a horse to hire as far as Mahabul's. A day or
two later Mahabul arrived in Kalgan on his way to Peking, and by his aid
Gilmour secured two camels, and on March 24 he started north, reaching
Mahabul's tent on the 28th. He at once endeavoured to secure the
services of a Mongol named Lojing, and the usual series of delays and
vexations occurred.

'To-day (March 29) I got impatient and went for a walk. Came back,
and Lojing came and said he would go. Felt relieved; he wants me to
come back this way, and I consent, though I would rather not. He
came back in the afternoon, saying that he could not get off his
engagement to read prayers with some other lama for Gichik's
soul,[3] so that we cannot start before Thursday at noon. Mahabul's
wife gave him some whisky, and he went to the officers and got
drunk. He waited for a camel which was offered for sale. The camel
came when I was out. He was drunk, did not watch it, so it drifted
away before the storm. A boy on horseback was sent after it. When
it came it was a perfect object, yet they asked twenty taels for
it. He is to go after a camel to-morrow. He was so drunk that,
remembering Gichik's fate, I am uneasy to think of his riding my
tall camel. O Lord, give me patience!'

[3] The son of the chief referred to on page 80, who had recently been
killed by a fall from his horse.

This and the three subsequent journeys over the Plain, made in the
course of 1873, were full of incident illustrative of the difficulties
of the work, the peculiarities of the people, and the restless energy
and indomitable perseverance of the missionary. But the limitations of
space forbid us to linger; we extract a few notes from the diary. It was
on the second of these journeys, while at Lama Miao, that he witnessed
the 'Mirth of Hell,' as he calls it, described in _Among the Mongols_,
Chapter XI.

'_April 19, 1873._--To-day had more provocation from my Mongol, and
my earnest prayer is that I may be able to stand it