ocks, herds, lands, houses, all have passed into their hands. There
remain to us only a few prairies, on which still live, under their tents,
such of the Mongols as have not been forced by utter destitution to
emigrate to other lands." "But if the Chinese are so baneful to you, why
did you let them penetrate into your country?" "Your words are the words
of truth, Sirs Lamas; but you are aware that the Mongols are men of
simple hearts. We took pity on these wicked _Kitats_, who came to us
weeping, to solicit our charity. We allowed them, through pure
compassion, to cultivate a few patches of land. The Mongols insensibly
followed their example, and abandoned the nomadic life. They drank the
wine of the Kitats, and smoked their tobacco, on credit; they bought
their manufactures on credit at double the real value. When the day of
payment came there was no money ready, and the Mongols had to yield, to
the violence of their creditors, houses, lands, flocks, everything."
"But could you not seek justice from the tribunals?" "Justice from the
tribunals! Oh, that is out of the question. The Kitats are skilful to
talk and to lie. It is impossible for a Mongol to gain a suit against a
Kitat. Sirs Lamas, the kingdom of Gechekten is undone!" So saying, the
poor Mongol rose, bowed, mounted his horse, and rapidly disappeared in
the desert.

We travelled two more days through this kingdom, and everywhere witnessed
the poverty and wretchedness of its scattered inhabitants. Yet the
country is naturally endowed with astonishing wealth, especially in gold
and silver mines, which of themselves have occasioned many of its worst
calamities. Notwithstanding the rigorous prohibition to work these
mines, it sometimes happens that large bands of Chinese outlaws assemble
together, and march, sword in hand, to dig into them. These are men
professing to be endowed with a peculiar capacity for discovering the
precious metals, guided, according to their own account, by the
conformation of mountains, and the sorts of plants they produce. One
single man, possessed of this fatal gift, will suffice to spread
desolation over a whole district. He speedily finds himself at the head
of thousands and thousands of outcasts, who overspread the country, and
render it the theatre of every crime. While some are occupied in working
the mines others pillage the surrounding districts, sparing neither
persons nor property, and committing excesses whic