Ibex Shooting In the Thian Shan Mountains 



winter, spring and autumn. Their houses they 

 raise upon a round foundation of wickers, arti- 

 ficially wrought and compacted together; the roof 

 consisting of wickers also, meeting above in one 

 little roundel, which they cover with white (or 

 hlack) felt. This cupola they adorn with a variety 

 of pictures." 



On our way down the Tekkes we were met by 

 an escort sent by a Manchu General, Fu Chen, who 

 was inspecting the country, asking us to lunch with 

 him at his yuarta. Of course we accepted, although 

 we knew little of Chinese etiquette save to keep on 

 our hats and not to drink the ceremonial tea until 

 we were leaving, while if he drank his first it was 

 a sign the interview was at an end. The lunch 

 lasted from one until five, with twenty-eight courses 

 and quantities of cognac, ending with music by his 

 private band, and it was well on in the next day 

 before we could think of food again, politeness 

 requiring that we should eat of each dish. No 

 sooner was lunch over and we had reached our 

 yuarta than a servant appeared with Fu Chen's 

 card and a present of a sheep and some flour and 

 rice; so we prepared to receive our guest, at the 

 same time getting out some American tobacco as a 

 present in return. For his amusement we showed 

 him some books with illustrations, and both he and 



323 



