Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 1 (1876).djvu/221

 The first of these, cattle, is the most important of the three, because it is so intimately connected with their well-being; and on this account, when meeting one another the first enquiries are always after the health of the flocks and herds, that of the master and his family coming next.

Medicine is another everyday subject of conversation with them, and they delight in hearing of cures performed. At the sight of a European, who is regarded in the light of a demigod, or at least as a great magician, the Mongol at once endeavours to derive some benefit from so extraordinary a person, and to learn from him some secret cure for his ailments. My collection of plants and herbs persuaded the inhabitants still further that I was a doctor, and I afterwards actually established a reputation as such from some cures I made in bad cases of fever, by administering doses of quinine.

The religious persuasions which underlie the whole current of the nomad's life, but are quite incomprehensible in themselves, rank next in the order of his intellectual ideas. He will never lose an opportunity of talking about the ceremonies of his religion, the miracles performed by the gigens, &c. &c.; his fanaticism is apparent in all these discussions, and he never for a moment wavers in his faith.

My transformation from a merchant to an official was of great advantage to us, for we were now independent of the natives, whereas in our assumed character of traders this was impossible. With such