Hoang-ho exactly opposite the town, and I sent the Mongol Djuldjig over with the soldiers to take my passport to the Chinese commander. Half-an-hour later, the Mongol returned in company with an official, who informed us that the mandarin desired to see us and asked to be shown our gun and dog, about which he had probably heard from Djuldjig. As soon as I had changed my dress, I stepped into the boat, taking with me the Buriat Cossack and the Mongol; the latter to act as interpreter of the Chinese language, with which he was well acquainted.
Hardly had we reached the opposite shore than a great crowd collected round us of all the inhabitants of Ding-hu. This small town had been entirely destroyed by the Dungans; the only thing left standing was a mud wall with a circuit of less than half a mile, and so rotten that a good blow with a stout oaken stick would almost suffice to make a breach in any part of it. The only inhabitants of Ding-hu are the garrison, numbering at one time a thousand men, but now, owing to desertions, reduced by one half.
Accompanied by the whole crowd, we passed inside the wall, where we were met by some officers who motioned to us to enter a house, where we were told to wait till we could be ushered into the presence of the mandarin commanding the garrison. The house which we now entered served as a lodging for one of the officers, but outside and in it was hardly better than an ordinary shed. By way of ornament long strings of garlic hung round the walls, which
