These words
produced a magical effect on the Regent. His face became radiant, and he
looked at us with a look of satisfaction, and made a gracious movement
with his head, as much as to say, "It is well; you are honest people."

We could not get off without a little geographical lecture. We yielded
charitably to the wishes of the Regent and the Chinese ambassador. We
indicated with our fingers on the map of Mercator, China, Tartary, and
Thibet, and all the other countries of the globe. The Regent was amazed
at seeing how far we were from our native land, and what a long journey
we had been obliged to make, by land and water, to come and pay him a
visit in the capital of Thibet. He regarded us with astonishment, and
then raised the thumb of his right hand, saying, "You are men like that,"
signifying, in the figurative language of the Thibetians; you are men of
a superlative stamp. After recognising the principal points of Thibet,
the Regent inquired whereabouts was Calcutta? "Here," we said, pointing
to a little round speck on the borders of the sea. "And Lha-Ssa: where
then is Lha-Ssa?" "Here it is." The eyes and finger of the Regent went
from Lha-Ssa to Calcutta, and from Calcutta to Lha-Ssa. "The Pelings of
Calcutta are very near our frontiers," said he, making a grimace, and
shaking his head. "No matter," he added, "here are the Himalaya
mountains."

The course of geography being ended, the maps were folded up again,
placed in their respective cases, and we passed on to religious subjects.
Ki-Chan had long since become acquainted with these matters. When he was
viceroy of the province of Pe-Tche-Ly, he had sufficiently persecuted the
Christians, to have numerous opportunities of making himself familiar
with everything connected with the Catholic worship; and he accordingly
now displayed his knowledge. He explained the images, the sacred vases,
the ornaments. He even informed the company that in the box of holy oils
there was a famous remedy for people at death's door. During all these
explanations the Regent was thoughtful and abstracted; his eyes were
constantly turned towards a large host-iron. These long pincers,
terminating in two large lips, seemed to act powerfully on his
imagination. He gave us an inquiring look, seeming to ask us if this
frightful implement was not something like an infernal machine. He was
only re-assured upon viewing some wafers that we kept in a box, for he
then compreh