o approach too near the animals which excited their surprise, and whose
strength they instinctively dreaded.

Towards the close of this day's march we arrived at Hia-Ho-Po, a large
village without ramparts. We proceeded to dismount at the Hotel of the
Five Felicities (_Ou-Fou-Tien_). We were occupied in giving forage to
our beasts, when a horseman bearing a white button on his cap, appeared
in the court of the inn. Without dismounting, or making the accustomed
salutation, he proceeded to bawl for the landlord. "The great Mandarin
is on his way here," cried he, in curt and haughty tones; "let everything
be clean and well swept. Let these Tartars go and lodge elsewhere; the
great Mandarin will not have camels in the inn." Coming from the courier
of a Mandarin, these insolent words did not surprise but they irritated
us. We pretended not to hear them, and quietly pursued our occupation.
The innkeeper, seeing that we paid no attention to the order that had
been made, advanced towards us, and laid before us, with politeness
mingled with embarrassment, the state of the case. "Go," we said to him
firmly; "go tell this white button that you have received us into your
inn, that we will remain there, and that Mandarins have no right to come
and take the places of travellers, who are already lawfully established
anywhere." The innkeeper was spared the trouble of reporting our words
to white button, for they had been pronounced in such a manner that he
could hear them himself. He dismounted forthwith; and addressing us
directly, said, "The grand Mandarin will soon arrive; he has a large
retinue, and the inn is small; besides, how would the horses venture to
remain in this yard in presence of your camels?" "A man in the suite of
a Mandarin, and, moreover, adorned like you with a white button, should
know how to express himself--first, politely, and next, justly. We have
a right to remain here, and no one shall expel us; and our camels shall
remain tied to the door of our room." "The grand Mandarin has ordered me
to come and prepare apartments for him, at the Hotel of the Five
Felicities." "Very well; prepare them, but don't meddle with our things.
If you cannot accommodate yourselves here, reason suggests that you go
and seek a lodging elsewhere." "And the great Mandarin?" "Tell your
Mandarin that there are three Lamas of the Western Heaven in this place,
who are ready to return to Ning-Hia to discuss the matter with h