158 CHINESE TURKESTAN 



but the other two, one of whom was armed with a 

 formidable sword (which he luckily dropped), were 

 soon on the ground and tied up, their ponies being 

 let go. I was rather glad when our escort arrived, 

 as a crowd of agricultural Chinese, armed with 

 hoes, began to assemble, and I feared a rescue. We 

 handed over our prisoners, somewhat the worse for 

 wear, and they, seeing now how completely they 

 were in the wrong box, began to beg for mercy, 

 saying that they did not know who we were a 

 truly Chinese excuse for an utterly unprovoked 

 assault, and one to which, needless to say, we paid 

 no attention. 



When we arrived at the serai, we found there 

 was yet another complaint to make. We had sent 

 on one of our men with our cards and passports for 

 the amban, and just outside the Ydmen (official 

 residence and court) he had been set upon by a 

 mob ; he was a good deal knocked about, but being 

 a powerful and determined fellow, had managed to 

 run one of his assailants in. By this time we were 

 greatly pleased with the state of law and order 

 maintained in Manas, and sent a message to the 

 amban to say so, remarking at the same time 

 that we would recommend him to his chief in 

 Urumtsi, and also to the Tsungli Yamen in Pekin. 

 He sent back a message imploring us not to do so, 

 saying that he had only arrived from Kashgar ten 

 days before, and that Manas was not exactly a bed 



