KULDJA TO URUMTSI 159 



of roses, or words to that effect. He had the man 

 captured at the Yamen licked, and sent him down 

 to us in charge of the police to show us the result 

 (it appeared to be very satisfactory) ; he had also 

 caught another of the mob, and promised to attend 

 to him later. A military officer came down to 

 inquire our pleasure with regard to our two, saying 

 that he was quite overwhelmed with shame, and 

 that they ought to be beheaded, etc. We suggested 

 that a little stick would about meet the case, and 

 sent two of our men to see it inflicted ; their report 

 certainly freed the officials from any charge of 

 sympathy with the culprits. The punishment was 

 the small bamboo on both legs, for a description of 

 which see Norman's Far East. The Chinese 

 soldiery are the scum of the country, a most un- 

 mitigated set of blackguards. The only thing in 

 the above incident which surprised me was that 

 they tried it being only three to two. They were 

 indeed braves, for usually they require far better 

 odds than this before getting further than abuse. 

 They are accustomed to bully the natives, i.e. 

 Yarkandis, as these do not show fight, and I do not 

 suppose that much would happen if one followed 

 their example ; but one's natural impulse is to hit 

 back promptly and chance the consequences, which 

 if they once got one down would be serious, to say 

 the least of it, and I would not hesitate to use fire- 

 arms to avoid it if hard-pressed. The authorities 



