Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 1 (1876).djvu/247

 invited us in, and motioning to my companion and myself to be seated (the Mongol and Cossack remained standing), ordered tea to be handed, and began questioning us on the object of our journey, whence we had come, and whither we were going. On my telling him of my wish to travel through Ordos into Ala-shan, he assured me that it was very dangerous, for the country was infested with robbers. Knowing that nothing can be done in China without a bribe, I turned the subject from our future journey, and told the Cossack to interpret to the Mandarin that I wished to give him a good Russian watch as a keepsake. This at once produced an impression. He pretended at first to decline the proffered gift, but afterwards thanked me, and offered to give us a safe conduct through Ordos. Overjoyed at this turn of affairs, we made our adieux to the general, and begged him to order assistance to be given us in finding a lodging.

Escorted by several policemen, and followed by a huge crowd which waited in front of the Mandarin's house for us, we started in search of accommodation.

The policemen entered one house after another, and on being refused admittance, or, more correctly speaking, on receiving a bribe from the owner, led us further. At length we reached the house of a merchant, where soldiers were billeted, and here after a long altercation we were shown into a small and inconceivably dirty apartment. In vain we offered double payment for better rooms; none were