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132.

is its character as battle ground of the early hordes and nursery to certain peoples who contributed important elements to Chinese civilization in the prehistoric periods. The ethnologist will find a field fully as wide, in his search for the origins of certain traits of modern Chinese. He must further detect ethnic differences between the people of the various Khanates, link certain of these tribes with the people of Shansi Province, and, most valuable of all, give us material proof of the correctness of our surmises concerning the Uigur peoples and the first inhabitants of the little principalities absorbed by the Chinese on their northern and western boundaries.
[[underline]]URGA[[/underline]]     By the courtesy of the Russian Consul and Political Agent I was able in Urga to interview the officials of the new Mongol Empire who, though they had slight knowledge of archaeological purposes, promised a welcome to any members of our future staff who might come to their country. Without any suggestion from me, the Premier offered us a gift of land in the city of Urga and the pick of his pony herd (then grazing four hundred miles to the south). I explained that your Committee would make no such demands on him or on his Government, but in the future would ask leave merely to travel through Mongolia and to study the ancient history of his people. His Excellency replied that this could best be done by coming first to Urga and obtaining letters of introduction from the Princes of the various Khanates to their people all over the Empire. The Minister for War and the Minister for Finance both gave me dinners at their official residences and I was able to reassure them concerning my mission which they at first took to be diplomatic.