deplorable condition, not a whit
better for the purpose than the skin of a drowned cat. In this doleful
condition of things, a reflection, full of gentle melancholy, came into
our minds, and consoled us; we remembered that we were the disciples of
Him who said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests;
but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head."

We became so fatigued, after remaining awake the greater part of the
night, that sleep conquering us, we fell into a restless doze, seated
over the embers of the fire, our arms crossed, and our heads bent
forward, in the most uncomfortable position possible.

It was with extreme delight that we hailed the termination of that long
and dreary night. At daybreak, the blue, cloudless sky, presaged
compensation for the wretchedness of the preceding evening. By-and-by,
the sun rising clear and brilliant, inspired us with the hope that our
still wet clothes would soon get dry as we proceeded on our way. We
speedily made all preparations for departure, and the caravan set forth.
The weather was magnificent. By degrees, the large grass of the prairie
raised its broad head, which had been depressed by the heavy rain; the
ground became firmer, and we experienced, with delight, the gentle heat
of the sun's ascending rays. At last, to complete our satisfaction, we
entered upon the plains of the Red Banner, the most picturesque of the
whole Tchakar.

_Tchakar_ signifies, in the Mongol tongue, _Border Land_. This country
is limited, on the east by the kingdom of _Gechekten_, on the west by
_Western Toumet_, on the north by the _Souniot_, on the south by the
Great Wall. Its extent is 150 leagues long, by 100 broad. The
inhabitants of the _Tchakar_ are all paid soldiers of the Emperor. The
foot soldiers receive twelve ounces of silver per annum, and the cavalry
twenty-four.

The _Tchakar_ is divided into eight banners--in Chinese
_Pa-Ki_--distinguished by the name of eight colours: white, blue, red,
yellow, French white, light blue, pink, and light yellow. Each banner
has its separate territory, and a tribunal, named _Nourou-Tchayn_, having
jurisdiction over all the matters that may occur in the Banner. Besides
this tribunal, there is, in each of the Eight Banners, a chief called
_Ou-Gourdha_. Of the eight _Ou-Gourdhas_ one is selected to fill at the
same time, the post of governor-general of the Eight Banners. All these
dignitaries are nominated and