108 A MODERN REHOBOAM AND HIS CAPITAL 



sions were worth to venture into their territory- 

 alone. A clan protects its own friends and the 

 friends of its chief, but not those of another clan, 

 who are looked on as legitimate prey. Any 

 stranger whom they happen to hold in great rever- 

 ence and affection they have a custom of adopting 

 as their father. As illustrating their character the 

 following story is interesting : 



The grandchildren of a certain convert to 

 Christianity had been kidnapped by them. The 

 man was in despair, for no one had the courage to 

 make any attempt to rescue them. In his trouble 

 he went to the then Prime Minister, who was sub- 

 sequently turned out of his office by Yang. Hav- 

 ing been adopted by about forty T'e-pus as fatlier, 

 he told the unhappy man that he would try to get 

 back the kidnapped children. He accordingly 

 started off alone on his dangerous errand, and after 

 a few days returned unharmed with the children. 

 The T'e-pus are not agriculturists and live chiefly 

 by barter, coming into Choni occasionally for 

 provisions. We saw a number of them later on, 

 including a lama, who performed a monotonous 

 and somewhat senseless dance for our edifica- 

 tion. 



At times they dash down in a sudden raid as the 

 Chonians are watering their horses and live stock 

 at the river. These they whirl away into the hills 

 before their owners have time to recover from their 

 astonishment. One of their priests was imprisoned 

 in the yamen. Six of them set out to rescue him 

 and had the courage and impudence to walk into 

 the l*rince's yard and cook their fbod there ! 



At Choni we stayed with Mr. and Mrs. '\^^illiam 



