his feet to shake hands with a dignified
short Burman in beautiful native dress, to whom he introduces us. This
is the Sawbwa, or chief, of Hsipaw, one of the native states. The Sawbwa
has been educated in England and speaks perfectly correct English. He
has a passion for travel and wants to go round the world, he says, but
he has to get permission from the Viceroy before leaving the country, as
the English Government doesn't like the native princes leaving their
territory. So long as he stays at home and governs his people well he is
not interfered with, but when he wants to go away he feels the hand of
Britain over him!

After talking a little while he asks us if we have seen the football--he
calls it football, but, as he explains, it is a native game called
_chin-lon_, which is not quite the same.

We saunter across the lawn and find that a sort of exhibition game for
the amusement of the guests is going on. The ball is made of wicker-work
and is kept in the air by the knees or feet of the players very
cleverly, in fact, so cleverly that it looks quite easy to do. The young
men who are playing turn and twist and always catch it just right,
sending it spinning upwards very neatly. This is a game played by every
village lad, but if you tried it you'd find it uncommonly difficult.

[Illustration: "BOXING."]

A little farther on two men are boxing with their feet, raising their
legs in the high kick and sometimes smacking each other's faces with the
soles; the way they balance is extraordinary, there are roars of
laughter when one nearly goes over but just recovers himself. He is a
bit of a clown, that fellow, and does it on purpose now and again,
though really he is perfectly balanced. Then we walk on with Claude
toward the house, where the marble steps are lined by chuprassies, like
the one who brought us our invitation this morning; we pass into the
hall, with its high white columns and airy spaciousness, and then we see
masses of wood-carving like that at the choung, deeply undercut, and a
huge pair of elephant tusks. Everywhere are tall vases with great
orange and red flags, something of the same kind as those that grow by
riversides, only much larger.

The passages are in the form of great arcades, and the ballroom behind
is vast. It is indeed a palace fit for a king!

His Excellency is very gracious, and when he is free for a few minutes
he talks to us and asks us to stay with him and his wife on our way bac