h crossed legs on a thick cushion
covered with a tiger's-skin: it was the Regent. With his right hand he
made us a sign to approach. We went close up to him, and saluted him by
placing our caps under our arms. A bench covered with a red carpet stood
on our right; on this we were invited to sit down--we complied
immediately. Meantime the gilt door was closed, and there remained in
the saloon only the Regent and seven individuals, who stood behind
him--namely, four Lamas of a modest and composed bearing, two
sly-looking, mischievous-eyed Chinese, and a person whom, by his long
beard, his turban, and grave countenance, we recognised to be a
Mussulman. The Regent was a man of fifty years of age; his large
features, mild and remarkably pallid, breathed a truly royal majesty; his
dark eyes, shaded by long lashes, were intelligent and gentle. He was
dressed in a yellow robe, edged with sable; a ring, adorned with
diamonds, hung from his left ear, and his long, jet black hair was
collected together at the top of his head, and fastened by three small
gold combs. His large red cap, set with pearls and surmounted by a coral
ball, lay at his side on a green cushion.

When we were seated, the Regent gazed at us for a long while in silence,
and with a minute attention. He turned his head alternately to the right
and left, and smiled at us in a half mocking, half friendly manner. This
sort of pantomime appeared to us at last so droll, that we could not help
laughing. "Come," we said in French, and in an undertone, "this
gentleman seems a good fellow enough; our affair will go on very well."
"Ah!" said the Regent, in a very affable tone, "what language is that you
speak? I did not understand what you said?" "We spoke the language of
our country." "Well, repeat aloud what you said just now." "We said,
'This gentleman seems a good-natured fellow enough.'" The Regent,
turning to those who were standing behind him, said, "Do you understand
this language?" They all bowed together, and answered that they did not
understand it. "You see, nobody here understands the language of your
country. Translate your words into the Thibetian." We said, that in the
physiognomy of the First Kalon there was expressed much kindliness. "Ah!
you think I have much kindliness; yet I am very ill-natured. Is it not
true that I am very ill-natured?" he asked his attendants. They answered
merely by smiling. "You are right," continued the Regent