them?" "Oh, whatever he likes to give." "Well,
then, your horses are purchased," and so saying, the Cashmerian unrolled
a small packet he had under his arm, and laid upon the table two silver
ingots weighing ten ounces each. "Here," said he, "is the price of your
two horses." We thought our beasts, worn and attenuated as they were,
not worth the money, and we conscientiously said so to the governor of
the Katchi; but it was impossible to modify the transaction which had
been all settled and concluded beforehand. The Regent made out that our
horses, although thin, were of an excellent breed, since they had not
succumbed beneath the fatigues of our long journey. Besides, they had,
in his eyes, a special value, because they had passed through many
countries, and particularly because they had fed on the pastures of
Kounboum, the native place of Tsong-Kaba. Twenty extra ounces of silver
in our low purse was almost a fortune. We could be generous with it; so,
on the spot, we took one of the ingots and placed it on Samdadchiemba's
knees. "This is for you," we said; "you will be able with it to clothe
yourself in holiday dress from head to foot." Samdadchiemba thanked us
coldly and awkwardly; then the muscles of his face became distended, his
nostrils swelled, and his large mouth assumed a smile. At last, he could
not restrain his joy; he rose and made his ingot leap in the air twice or
thrice, crying, "This is a famous day!" And Samdadchiemba was right.
This day, so sadly begun, had been fortunate beyond anything we could
have expected. We had now, at Lha-Ssa, an honourable position, and we
were to be allowed to labour freely in the propagation of the gospel.

The next day was still more lucky for us than its predecessor; putting,
as it were, a climax to our prosperity. In the morning we proceeded,
accompanied by the Cashmerian governor, to the palace of the Regent, to
whom we desired to express our gratitude for the manifestations of
interest with which he had honoured us. We were received with kindness
and cordiality. He told us, in confidence, that the Chinese were jealous
of our being at Lha-Ssa; but that we might count on his protection, and
reside freely in the country, without any one having a right to interfere
with us. "You are very badly lodged," added he; "your room seemed to me
dirty, small, and uncomfortable. I would have strangers like you, men
come from so great a distance, well treated at Lha-S