or
malefactors; so that "man of Gechekten" has become a synonyme for a
person without fear of God or man, who will commit any murder, and shrink
from no crime. It would seem as though, in this country, nature resented
the encroachments of man upon her rights. Wherever the plough has
passed, the soil has become poor, arid, and sandy, producing nothing but
oats, which constitute the food of the people. In the whole district
there is but one trading town, which the Mongols call _Altan-Some_,
(Temple of Gold). This was at first a great Lamasery, containing nearly
2000 Lamas. By degrees Chinese have settled there, in order to traffic
with the Tartars. In 1843, when we had occasion to visit this place, it
had already acquired the importance of a town. A highway, commencing at
_Altan-Some_, proceeds towards the north, and after traversing the
country of the _Khalkhas_, the river _Keroulan_, and the _Khinggan_
mountains, reaches Nertechink, a town of Siberia.

The sun had just set, and we were occupied inside the tent boiling our
tea, when Arsalan warned us, by his barking, of the approach of some
stranger. We soon heard the trot of a horse, and presently a mounted
Tartar appeared at the door. "_Mendou_," he exclaimed, by way of
respectful salutation to the supposed Lamas, raising his joined hands at
the same time to his forehead. When we invited him to drink a cup of tea
with us, he fastened his horse to one of the tent-pegs, and seated
himself by the hearth. "Sirs Lamas," said he, "under what quarter of the
heavens were you born?" "We are from the western heaven; and you, whence
come you?" "My poor abode is towards the north, at the end of the valley
you see there on our right." "Your country is a fine country." The
Mongol shook his head sadly, and made no reply. "Brother," we proceeded,
after a moment's silence, "the Land of Grass is still very extensive in
the kingdom of Gechekten. Would it not be better to cultivate your
plains? What good are these bare lands to you? Would not fine crops of
corn be preferable to mere grass?" He replied, with a tone of deep and
settled conviction, "We Mongols are formed for living in tents, and
pasturing cattle. So long as we kept to that in the kingdom of
Gechekten, we were rich and happy. Now, ever since the Mongols have set
themselves to cultivating the land, and building houses, they have become
poor. The _Kitats_ (Chinese) have taken possession of the country;
fl