Below the throne were
four scribes, two on the right, and two on the left; the rest of the
saloon was occupied by a great number of Chinese and Thibetians, who had
put on their holiday dresses to attend the inquiry.

Ki-Chan, although sixty years old, seemed to us full of strength and
vigour. His face is, without contradiction, the most noble, elegant, and
intellectual we have seen amongst the Chinese. When we took off our caps
to him, and made him one of our best bows, "'Tis well, 'tis well," he
said; "follow your own customs. I have been told you speak correctly the
language of Peking. I want to talk with you for a moment." "We make
many blunders in speaking, but your marvellous understanding will know
how to remedy the obscurity of our words." "Why, that is pure Pekinese.
You Frenchmen possess a great facility for all learning. You are
Frenchmen, are you not?" "Yes, we are Frenchmen." "Oh, I know the
French; there were formerly a great many of them at Peking; I used to see
some of them." "You must have known them, too, at Canton, when you were
imperial commissioner?" This reminiscence furrowed the forehead of our
judge; he took an abundant pinch of snuff out of his box, and threw it up
his nose in a very bad humour. "Yes, that is true; I have seen many
Europeans at Canton. You are of the religion of the Lord of Heaven, are
you not?" "Certainly we are; moreover, preachers of that religion." "I
know, I know; you have come hither, doubtless, to preach that religion?"
"We have no other object." "Have you already travelled over a great
number of countries?" "We have travelled over all China, Tartary, and
now we are in the capital of Thibet." "With whom did you live when you
were in China?" "We do not answer questions of that sort." "And if I
command you to do so?" "We should not obey." Here the irritated judge
struck the table with his fist. "You know," we said, "that Christians
have no fear; why seek, then, to intimidate us?" "Where did you learn
Chinese?" "In China." "In what place?" "A little everywhere." "And
the Tartar, you know it? where did you learn it?" "In Mongolia, in the
Land of Grass."

After some other trifling questions, Ki-Chan, telling us that we must be
tired, invited us to seat ourselves. Then suddenly changing his tone and
manner, he addressed Samdadchiemba, who, with his hand on his hip, had
been standing a little behind us. "And you," he said, in a dry and angry
voice