ppearance in the
distance, approaching us. By degrees they developed themselves in the
form of camels, laden with western merchandise for sale in Peking. When
we met the first camel-driver, we asked him how far it was from White
Enclosure. "You see here," said he with a grin, "one end of our caravan;
the other extremity is still within the town."

[Picture: Long Caravan]

"Thanks," cried we; "in that case we shall soon be there." "Well, you've
not more than fifteen lis to go." "Fifteen lis! why you've just told us
that the other end of your caravan is still in the town." "So it is, but
our caravan consists of at least ten thousand camels." "If that be the
case," said we, "there is no time to be lost: a good journey to you, and
peace," and on we went.

The cameleers had stamped upon their features, almost blackened with the
sun, a character of uncouth misanthropy. Enveloped from head to foot in
goatskins, they were placed between the humps of their camels, just like
bales of merchandise; they scarcely condescended to turn even their heads
round to look at us. Five months journeying across the desert seemed
almost to have brutified them. All the camels of this immense caravan
wore suspended from their necks Thibetian bells, the silvery sound of
which produced a musical harmony which contrasted very agreeably with the
sullen taciturn aspect of the drivers. In our progress, however, we
contrived to make them break silence from time to time; the roguish
Dchiahour attracted their attention to us in a very marked manner. Some
of the camels, more timid than others, took fright at the little mule,
which they doubtless imagined to be a wild beast. In their endeavour to
escape in an opposite direction they drew after them the camels next
following them in the procession, so that, by this operation, the caravan
assumed the form of an immense bow. This abrupt evolution aroused the
cameleers from their sullen torpidity; they grumbled bitterly, and
directed fierce glances against us, as they exerted themselves to restore
the procession to its proper line. Samdadchiemba, on the contrary,
shouted with laughter; it was in vain that we told him to ride somewhat
apart in order not to alarm the camels; he turned a deaf ear to all we
said. The discomfiture of the procession was quite a delightful
entertainment for him, and he made his little mule caracole about in the
hope of an encore.

The first