e framed all sorts of suppositions; but we could achieve no likely
solution of the problem. During the first watch of the night, we
conversed with the innkeeper, who seemed a frank, open sort of man
enough. He related to us infinite anecdotes of brigands, full of battle,
murder, and fire. "But," said we, "why don't you leave this detestable
country?" "Oh," replied he, "we are not free men; the inhabitants of
Kao-Tan-Dze are all exiles, who are only excused from going to Ili on the
condition that we remain here for the purpose of supplying with water the
Mandarins and soldiers who pass through the place, escorting exiles. We
are bound to furnish water gratuitously to all the government officers
who come to the village." When we found that we were among exiles, we
were somewhat reassured, and began to think that, after all, these people
were not in collusion with the brigands; for we learned that a petty
Mandarin lived in the village to superintend the population. We
conceived a hope that we might find some Christians at Kao-Tan-Dze, but
the innkeeper informed us that there were none, for that all exiles on
account of the religion of the Lord of Heaven, went on to Ili.

After what the innkeeper had told us, we conceived that we might, without
risk, take a brief repose; we accordingly threw ourselves on our
goatskins, and slept soundly till daybreak, the favour of God preserving
us from any visit on the part of the brigands.

During the greater part of the day, we proceeded along the road to Ili,
traversing with respect, with a degree of religious veneration, that path
of exile so often sanctified by the footsteps of the confessors of the
faith, and conversing, as we went, about those courageous Christians,
those strong souls, who, rather than renounce their religion, had
abandoned their families and their country, and gone to end their days in
unknown lands. Let us fervently pray that Providence may send
missionaries, full of devotion, to bear the consolations of the faith
amongst these our exiled brethren.

The road to Ili brought us to the Great Wall, which we passed over
without dismounting. This work of the Chinese nation, of which so much
is said and so little known, merits brief mention here. It is known that
the idea of raising walls as a fortification against the incursions of
enemies, was not peculiar, in old times, to China: antiquity presents us
with several examples of these labours elsewhere. Besi