lived in humble circumstances, earning a livelihood as artisans, bakers, laundrymen, needle-workers and such like. The former imperial Russian consul-general, DJAgov, had also, since the revolution in his native country, stayed on here. He was allowed a small pension by YANG, but lived very poorly, as he sent most o f his allowance to his family in Russia.
In Urumchi there were also a couple of Russian doctors and chemists. A very well-situated merchant family by the name of GMIxxIN lived in the best private house in Yang-hang. Besides these white-Russians, who were fugitives from their own country, there were but few Europeans here. The two English missionaries RIDI,ZY and HUNTER of the China Inland Mission I had met in Hsi-ning more than thirty years previously. They lived here in a simple house, teaching and preaching as of yore. The two Catholic priests of the Societas Verbe Divine I have already mentioned. Thanks to his friendship with FAN, the Foreign Minister, Father HILBRENNER, was often able to plead our cause to very good effect in delicate matters. Almost daily one or another of us was a visitor or a guest in the magnificent Catholic mission station.
The Postal Commissioner was an Irishman, Mr J. McLoRN, who with his young, charming wife lived in a splendid stone house in the Chinese town. At the hands if this amiable couple we also enjoyed the greatest hospitality, and Mr MCI,oRN did us many invaluable services.
Another European was the young German merchant SCHIRMER, who represented the firm of FAUST & Co. He helped us in connection with the engaging of servants, purchase of horses and provisions, forwarding of parcel-post from Europe etc. Both he and his wife were also extremely hospitable to us. His brother-in-law ANTONOV, a former officer in the Russian Black Sea fleet, and the latter's wife were also among our friends.
The only foreign power maintaining representation in Urumchi was the Soviet Union, which had a consulate-general in the town. In our closest neighbourhood just over the street was their big lot, on which were several white houses, including a club, a theatre, a bank and a tennis-court in the garden. From this same lot, too, rose the green spire of the white-Russian church, from which one could hear the bells ringing for divine service. The former consul-general, who had left Urumchi a year before, had forbidden the white-Russians to hold services in their church; but Governor YANG gave orders that the church be kept open for divine service and for the congregation.
In company with LARSON and LIEBERENZ I paid a visit to the new consul-general, Mr GAVRO. My companions, and later also v. KAULL, were going to return home, and needed passports and information. Before one could travel from Sinkiang to Russian territory it was necessary to get a special permit from Moscow, and Mr GAVRO arranged all such formalities with the greatest readiness. We experienced, in fact, nothing but good-will and obligingness from the Russian consul-general and his staff.
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