not wish to go to him any more myself, as I considered it beneath my dignity to have any dealings with such a rogue. In an hour's time the Cossack returned, bringing the powder-flask empty, but informing me that the mandarin would not surrender the caps, which he wished to keep for himself. The Cossack also told me that he had repeatedly asked him to persuade me to give him the other things. The servant who accompanied the Cossack waited for an answer, and was sent back to the mandarin with another refusal. He soon returned, however, and explained that the mandarin wished to buy the articles which had been taken. At first I thought of refusing to sell them, but afterwards, acting on the advice of a Mongol zanghin,[1] with whom we were on good terms, consented to the arrangement, on condition that a passport and guide should be at once given us. Both one and the other were soon supplied; but instead of sixty-seven lans (about 17l.), which was the price fixed on for the articles, the mandarin only sent fifty lans (12l. 10s.), informing me that he would pay me the remainder of the money at my next visit. I was reluctant to re-open negotiations for such a trifle, and giving orders to pack the camels notwithstanding the approach of evening, we started from Ding-hu.
The Mongol zanghin joined us on the road, and related how on hearing that I wished to go without his leave, the mandarin had exclaimed angrily, 'I
- ↑ A subaltern officer of the rank of cornet. Timkowski's 'Travels,' i. 11.
