ay in Thibet, which, after all, was a result to which we
should without difficulty become reconciled. Meantime, we went to bed,
and left the people of the escort to discuss politics and social economy.

The next day, when we rose, we found neither oxen nor horses in the court
of the barracks. Ly-Kouo-Ngan was in utter despair. "Shall we have the
oulah?" inquired we; "shall we depart to-day?" "These barbarians,"
answered he, "do not comprehend the merit of obedience. I have resolved
to address myself to Proul-Tamba; I have sent a deputation to him; I have
known him a long time, and I hope he will procure the oulah for us."
This Proul-Tamba was a person of whom we had already heard a great deal.
He was at the head of the party of the young Tchaktchouba of Djaya, and
consequently the avowed enemy of Chinese influence. He was, we were
informed, learned as the most learned Lamas of Lha-Ssa. No one came up
to him in valour; never in battle had he experienced defeat.
Accordingly, among all the tribes of the province of Kham, his name alone
had potency, and acted like a talisman on the minds of the multitude.
Proul-Tamba was, in some measure, the Abd-el-Kader of these wild
mountaineers.

The dwelling of Proul-Tamba was distant from Bagoung not more than five
or six lis. The deputation that had been sent to him, soon returned, and
announced that the great chief himself was coming. This unexpected news
put in commotion the whole Thibetian village, and the soldiers. Every
one said to every one, excitedly, "The great chief is coming, we are
going to see the great chief!" Ly-Kouo-Ngan hastened to attire himself
in his best clothes, his silk boots, and his hat of ceremony. The
Chinese soldiers also improved, as well as they could, their toilet.
Whilst the Thibetians ran to meet their chief, Ly-Kouo-Ngan selected from
his baggage a magnificent khata, or scarf of blessing, and then posted
himself on the threshold of the door, to receive the illustrious
Proul-Tamba. As for us, the department we selected was to study the
physiognomies of the different parties. The most interesting was,
doubtless, that of the Pacificator of Kingdoms. It was curious to see
this Chinese Mandarin, generally so haughtily insolent in the presence of
Thibetians, become all at once humble and modest, and awaiting,
tremblingly, the arrival of a man whom he deemed strong and potent.

At last the great chief appeared; he was on horseback, escorted b