he quality of the dishes;
secondly, because that day our minds were more occupied with politics
than with gastronomy. All of a sudden we missed Samdadchiemba; we asked
what had become of him: "He is with my servants," answered the Regent;
"do not trouble yourselves on his account, he shall not want for
anything."

During, and after the repast, there was much inquiry about France and the
countries we had visited. Then the Regent, pointing to the pictures that
adorned his room, asked whether we could ourselves paint any such. "We
cannot paint," was our answer; "study, and the preaching of the doctrine
of Jehovah are our only occupations." "Oh, don't tell me you cannot
paint; I know that the people of your country are very skilful in that
art." "Yes, those who make it their employment; but our clergymen are
not in the habit of exercising it." "Though you may not follow this art
specially, yet you are not quite unacquainted with it; you can,
doubtless, draw geographical maps?" "No, we cannot." "How! on your
journey did you never sketch, did you never make a map?" "Never." "Oh,
that is impossible!" The pertinacity of the Regent in questioning us on
this subject, made us pause to reflect; presently we expressed the
surprise we felt at all these inquiries. "I see," he said, "that you are
straightforward, honest men; I will speak frankly to you. The Chinese
are very suspicious, you are aware of that: you have been long enough in
China to know it as well as I do; well, they believe that you are
travelling through foreign kingdoms, on purpose to draw maps of them and
to explore them. If you do draw, if you do make geographical maps, admit
it without fear; rely on my protection." Evidently the Regent was afraid
of an invasion; he fancied, perhaps, that we were charged with laying
down the route for some formidable army, ready to overwhelm Thibet. We
endeavoured to dissipate his fears, and to assure him of the extremely
peaceful views of the French government. We admitted, however, that
amongst our effects there was a great number of drawings and geographical
maps, and that we had even a map of Thibet. At these words, the face of
the Regent was suddenly contracted; but we hastened to add, in order to
quiet him, that all our drawings and maps were printed, and that we were
not their authors. We took the opportunity to speak to the Regent and
the Cashmerian governor, of the geographical knowledge of the Europeans.