Physical characteristics--Meanness--Indolence--Failure in agriculture--Hospitality--Its origin--Pilfering--Honesty-- Drunkenness--Smoking--Ir'chi or Kumiss--Morality--Of lamas--Women fond of ornaments--Decency of dress-- Physique--Low muscular energy--A wrestling match--Bad legs--Bow-legged--Its causes--Complexions--Eyes--Absence of beard--Comparison with Chinese and Japanese--Effect of habits on physical development--Animal instincts in nomads--Supply the place of artificial appliances-- Permanence of types of character--Uniformity in primitive peoples--Causes that influence colour of skin--Mongol powers of endurance--Low mental capacity--Its causes-- Superstition produced by their habits--Predisposed to spiritual thraldom--The lamas and their practices-- Prayers--Knaveries of lamas--Vagabond lamas--The spread of Bhuddism--Superior to Shamanism--Shaman rites--Political result of Bhuddism--The Mongol kings--Serfs 185 CHAPTER XII. KIACHTA. Approach Kiachta--Maimachin--Chinese elegance--The frontier--Russian eagle--The commissary of the frontier-- "Times" newspaper--Kiachta--Troitskosarfsk--Meet a countryman--Part from our Mongols--Their programme--A Russian bath--Siberian refinement--Streets and pavement-- Russian conveyances--Aversion to exercise-- Semi-civilisation--Etiquette--Mixture of peoples--Wealth of Russian merchants--Narrow commercial views--The Chinese of Maimachin--Domestic habits--Russian and Chinese characters compared--Chinese more civilised than the Russians--The Custom-house--Liberal measures--Our droshky-- Situation of Kiachta--Supplies--Population--Hay-market-- Fish--The garden--Domestic gardening--Climate salubrious-- Construction of houses--Stoves--Russian meals--Commercial importance of Kiachta--Inundation of the Selenga-- Travelling impracticable--Money-changing--New travelling appointments--Tarantass--Passports--Danger of delay--Prepare to start--First difficulty--Siberian horses--Post-bell 203 CHAPTER XIII. KIACHTA TO THE BAIKAL. Leave Troitskosarfsk--Hilly roads--Bouriats--The first post-station--Agreeable surprise--Another stoppage--A night on the hill-side--Hire another carriage--Reach the Selenga--The ferry--Selenginsk--A gallery of art-- Cultivation--Verchne Udinsk--Effects of the inundation-- Slough of despond--Fine scenery--A dangerous road--A press of travellers--Favour shown us--Angry Poles-- Ilyensk--An obsequious postmaster--Tidy post-house--A night at Ilyensk--Treachery suspected--Roads destroyed-- Difficult travelling--An old Pole--Baikal lake--Station at Pasoilské--A night scene--The Selenga river--And valley--Agriculture--Cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs 223 CHAPTER XIV. LAKE BAIKAL TO IRKUTSK.