They welcomed us very cordially, gave us oxen and thirty-six bricks of tea.

Also they saved us from inevitable destruction, for they told us that at this season it was utterly impossible for horses to make the trip across the Gobi, where there was no grass at all.

We must buy camels by exchanging for them our horses and some other of our bartering supplies.

One of the Tartars the next day brought to their camp a rich Mongol with whom he drove the bargain for this trade.

He gave us nineteen camels and took all our horses, one rifle, one pistol and the best Cossack saddle.