"there is a most admirable opening for the work on the Russian side
of the Chinese Empire. About five thousand miles from St Petersburg,
on the frontiers of Chinese Tartary, and only nine hundred miles
distant from Pekin, the seat of the Tartar Monarchy, stands the town
of Kiakhta, {121a} which properly belongs to Russia, but the
inhabitants of which are a medley of Tartary, Chinese, and Russ
(sic). As far as this town a Russian or foreigner is permitted to
advance, but his further progress is forbidden, and if he make the
attempt he is liable to be taken up as a spy or deserter, and sent
back under guard. This town is the emporium of Chinese and Russian
trade. Chinese caravans are continually arriving and returning,
bringing and carrying away articles of merchandise. There are
likewise a Chinese and a Tartar Mandarin, also a school where Chinese
and Tartar are taught, and where Chinese and Tartar children along
with Russian are educated." {121b}


The advantages of such a town as a base of operations were obvious.
Borrow was convinced that he could dispose "of any quantity of
Testaments to the Chinese merchants who arrive thither from Pekin and
other places, and who would be glad to purchase them on speculation."
{121c}

Russia and China were friendly to each other, so much so, that there
was at Pekin a Russian mission, the only one of its kind. These good
relations rendered Borrow confident that books from Russia,
especially books which had not an outlandish appearance, would be
purchased without scruple. "In a word, were an agent for the Bible