Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 1 (1876).djvu/318

 visited Kiakhta, where he became acquainted with the Russians.

Sordji was very useful to us, owing to his willingness to serve us and the important position he held in the town. Without him we might not have been so well received by the prince and his sons. He was one of the three persons sent out to meet us and to enquire who we were, and he explained to the prince of Ala-shan that we really were Russians and no other kind of foreigners. Russian, however, is the generic name applied to all Europeans by the Mongols, with the affix French or English according as they wish to designate either Frenchmen or Englishmen; the nomads believe that the two last-named nations are vassals of the Tsagan-Khan, i.e. White Tsar.

On entering Din-yuan-ing we were met outside the town by an immense crowd of people who followed us and filled every corner of the courtyard in the Chinese inn where we were located. The landlord of this inn was evidently displeased at our lodging with him, and he was a long time in finding the key of the house assigned for our use. At last the key was found; we unloaded the camels, carried everything into the house, and soon after our meal lay down to sleep, as it was late, and we were very tired with our long march. The following day from the early morning our rest was disturbed by the inquisitive rascals, who invaded the yard, climbed on to our house, and tore slits in the paper windows through which to look at us. Our military guard