WITH THE RUSSIANS IN MONGOLIA
Mr. Perry-Ayscough journeyed in Mongolia when China had become a Republic, and when Mongolia was autonomous under Russian protection. The authors have therefore been able to compare the state of affairs in Mongolia, and Chinese, Mongol, and Russian relations at two distinct periods.
Mr. Perry-Ayscough was at Urga shortly after the conclusion of the Mongol-Tibetan Treaty, and was fortunate enough, thanks to the kindness and courtesy of the Russian officials whom he met, to be given every opportunity of seeing for himself the actual state of affairs in the interior of Mongolia at Uliassutai and Kobdo, where Russia has troops and consulates.
The concluding portion of his journey from Kosh Agatch to Novo Nikolaievsk viâ Biisk and Barnaul took him through the Altai Mountains amongst the beautiful scenery of the Chuyan Alps, and was of interest as showing the rapid strides in progress and colonisation that Russia has made in the Altai district—the richest and most densely populated in Siberia.
Monsieur Korostovetz has rendered the authors every help and assistance, and has kindly supplied many of the photos. It was he who, as Plenipotentiary of the Russian Government at Urga,
8
