From Pekin to Calais by land . The sun was low in the heavens when we bidadieu to the Lama and took our departure. Wewere rather surprised to find on arriving in camp,the baggage on the ground, the ponies still un-saddled, the camels scattered about the plain inall directions, and Moses and Aaron clearly underthe influence of arak. As for Sylvia, he hadtaken up a position behind one of the carts tete-a tSte with the pretty Tartar, who was plaitinghis pigtail, and carrying on in a way that wouldsomewhat have disconcerted her spouse had hesuddenly arrived on the scene. Benedick wouldprobably, ho
From Pekin to Calais by land . The sun was low in the heavens when we bidadieu to the Lama and took our departure. Wewere rather surprised to find on arriving in camp,the baggage on the ground, the ponies still un-saddled, the camels scattered about the plain inall directions, and Moses and Aaron clearly underthe influence of arak. As for Sylvia, he hadtaken up a position behind one of the carts tete-a tSte with the pretty Tartar, who was plaitinghis pigtail, and carrying on in a way that wouldsomewhat have disconcerted her spouse had hesuddenly arrived on the scene. Benedick wouldprobably, however, not have minded much, for, asI have said, the Mongols are not jealous of theirwomen. They greatly differ in this respect fromthe Kirghiz tartars, who will not allow a strangereven to look upon their wives. Their respectivereligions, Mahometanism and Buddhism, of course,account for this. The Kirghiz woman is alwaysmore or less under supervision, the Mongol may doas she pleases, go where she likes, and alone. Never- A[.L. 1 p THE DKSKKT OF GOBI. 215 theless, tliere is but little immorality among thelatter. As much cannot be said for the followersof the Prophet further west. Our faithful little henchmans face expandedinto a broad grin as soon as he saw us. He wasno bad judge of female beauty. The face andfigure of the object of his affections would not havedisgraced a European ball-room; while a fascinatinghalf-savage half naice manner enhanced her at-tractions not a little. It was only with greatdifficulty and by threats of complaining to theLama that we separated the love-sick camel-driverfrom his lady-love. But, even then, she would notforsake him. Jumping on a pony as soon as westarted, she rode alongside the caravan till the moonhad fairly risen, and we were some miles from herhome. It was not till nearly ten oclock that sheleft us, after a tender parting with Sylvia (duringwhich the caravan was left to its own devices),to gallop home alone in the moonlight to her your
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