New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12

particularly picturesque and interesting The
lake had been frozen during dead caln' 50 mat
the surface was smooth as mirror III mas
srcat GePth bottom not being found at five thoi-
sand feet in many parts so perfectly
translucent was the Ice that me
traveller seemed to be passing through the ar
or sheet Of perfectly still water. Lenhi"g
over the side OF the vehicle the eve plunged GOWN
into measureless abyss the view producing
curious nervous tension in the unaccus'omed spec
tator.
Mongolia the outhor found TO be dirty. ngly.
| and the people debased and tlriftless. lie made
some stay az the sacred city OF Ourga. the resi-
dcnce OF a mysterious official called the Bogdor
Of Kurcnc," who appears to he sort Of vice
Dalai Lama-a replica Of the great functionary
whose scat is In the mystic city Of lIhassa. Mr..
Price was so fortunate as 10 bc brought face 10
face with the Bogdor who lives in great, but not
complete seclnsion, but whose lot is not a happy
one. inasnuch as unless he lives up to his posi-
ton in all respects he is apt 10 disappear sud-
denly On these occasions nobody thinks OF nsk-
ing any ouestione but all wait until in the
fulness of time a fresh Bogder is sent from
Lhaesa TO Ourga TIE Bogdor II IS interesting
TO know, is supported entirely by voluntary con-
tributions and the piety Of the Monaos IL such
that he is enabled TO maintain considerable mag
niicence lie seems to have no particular fnnc-
tons beyond riding in certain ecclesiastical pro-
ccesons in g!oriiici sedan-chalr' pn'
being ex hypotles of supernatural. il not
celestial origin. he is greatly reveTcd M'er stay
inc NJ Onrea several weeks, Mr. Price made an
arrangement 10 travel with the Russian Heavy
Mail ecross the Gobie Desert, and through China
TO Peknq All the mail systems here arc in the
hands of the Russians. and Cossacks conduct the
mails The Chinese have very Wholesome feel
inp Of respect for the people Of the White Gar
and never venture to attack one Of them. evidently
having had experience of the unpleasant effects OF
Russian reprisals.
Mr.. Price had great luck in reaching Peking, FOR
it. was Just after some popular disturbance III
which the customary rails had been made upon
missionaries and other foreigners. lie perhaps
owed his immunity TO his Russian escort. ana the
fact that he himself wore Cossack cap, ara II
so the incident is certainly significant. TN thia
Journey he saw and passed under b"th th' con-
structions which have been called the great wall
Of China, and hc unhesitatingly gives the palm OF
effectiveness and dignity 10 the inner wall lie
saw it at the Nankaon Pass. and says; Some
time before reaching it I could distinguish the
mighty structure standing out in bold reiiei
against the sky, where, in places, It actuaiiy
crossed the very tops OF 'h' h's"-
est mountains / had fully prepared my
self for something wonderful but this marvellous
work more than realzcl my expectations ana
fairly held me spell-bound for few minutes.
Tho Kalqaa wall, in my OPINION, Is
not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath
e,en and any one who frat saw thi, one and
then fancjed he would End something finer az
Kalgan, would be gricvously disappointed. What
strucly me most about il was its wonderful state
Of reservation. the symmetrically hcwn stones OF
which il is composed showing but few signs OF
the ravagcs Of time" He does not think, how
over that the Great Wall could ever have bcen
defended
Something should he said Of the passage OF the
Cobb Desert, but not much Of interest really Do
lcngs to this incident. The Russians have es'aD-
lshed series Of mail stations all across the
Desert, and there is no danger TO he apprchcnded
from lack Of water, while the elevation is such
that it is never excessively hot. The silence ana
monotony of the Desert constitute its principal
drawbacks, and fer the keepers OF the stations
and the mail riders il must be most depressing
place But the author had no adventures while
crossing il, and rcachcd China without suffering
or excitement In the Sane prosperous fashion, va
ried only with bits of bad or dangerous road.
he arrived at Picking, where he took the river
for bis passage to Shanghai, at which point
the chronicle of his Journey ends. As lie returned
home by way of japan and the United States,
he might as well have recorded his impressions
a little further Mr.. Prices long journey was. on
the whole sncGlarly Tree from accidents ant I'M
neasant surprises but this is perhaps due in large
measure 10 his extended experience AS n special
correspondent which has developed his resource
fulncss and erahled him 70 make in advance prcp'
arations which are often if not always imp. ssbe
after a start has been made.
lie writes naturally, easily, and without the
least attempt At effect. An Important part Of his
bool, is It's illustrations. which IRE together good
and very frequently excellent lie is an observant
and BRIGHT traveller, and his narrative well de-
serves 10 have been printed and in the handsome
! form in which IL appears.