ld be more safe to trust his cases to missionaries than to a Chinese,
even though the Chinese was a Mandarin. This token of confidence gave us
great pleasure. It was a homage rendered to the probity of Christians,
and, at the same time, a bitter satire upon the Chinese character.

We proceeded to the house of Ly-Kouo-Ngan, where eighteen horses, ready
saddled, were awaiting us in the court-yard. The three best were
standing apart, reserved for the Tou-Sse and ourselves. The fifteen
others were for the soldiers, and each was to take the one which fell to
him by lot.

Before we mounted, a strong-limbed Thibetian female, very fairly dressed,
presented herself: she was the wife of Ly-Kouo-Ngan. He had been married
to her six years, and was about to leave her for ever; he only had one
child by her, which had died in its infancy. As these two conjugal
halves were never again to see each other, it was but natural that at the
moment of so afflicting a separation, there should be a few words of
adieu. The thing was publicly done, and in the following manner: "We are
going to part," said the husband, "do you stay here and sit quietly in
your room." "Go in peace," replied the wife, "go hence in peace, and
take care of the swellings in your legs." She then put her hand before
her eyes, to make believe she was crying. "Look here," said the
pacificator of kingdoms, turning to us, "they are odd people these
Thibetian women. I leave her a well-built house, and plenty of furniture
almost new, and yet she is going to cry--is she not content?"

After this adieu, so full of unction and tenderness, every one mounted,
and the party set out down the streets of Lha-Ssa, taking care to select
those less encumbered with Lamas.

When we were out of the town, we perceived a large group awaiting us.
They were those inhabitants of Lha-Ssa, with whom we had had more
intimate acquaintance, during our stay in that town. Many of them had
begun to learn the truths of Christianity, and seemed to us sincerely
disposed to embrace our holy religion; they had assembled on our road to
salute us and offer us a farewell khata. We observed, amongst them, the
young physician, still wearing on his breast the cross we had given him.
We dismounted, [Picture: Parting of Ly-Kouo-Ngan with his wife] and
addressed to these Christian hearts a few words of consolation; we
exhorted them courageously to renounce the superstitious worship of
Buddha, to adore t