VISIT FROM THE FIRST COMMANDER. 399 



the first commander, who was accompanied by his two 

 companions and a band of soldiers. They received him 

 seated, while the common Mongolians crowded around 

 the door and looked on. The ceremonies of visitation 

 over, he and his attendants lighted their pipes, and 

 smoked vigorously, urging the travellers to do the same. 

 He tried some tobacco which they offered him, and 

 relished it highly, but seeing that they did not join him 

 in his fumigation, he put up his pipe, as his good breed- 

 ing would not permit him to smoke alone. Humboldt 

 offered him a piece of blue cloth, which he declined to 

 accept, though evidently with great reluctance. It was 

 pushed towards him, and pushed back, but very gentry, 

 several times. When he had done all that Chinese polite- 

 ness required of him under the circumstances, he accepted 

 it, and the twinkle of his eye showed the satisfaction that 

 he felt. He inquired what he could offer in exchange, and 

 the interpreter, who had received his instructions before 

 hand, told him that he could offer Humboldt nothing 

 that he would value so much as some Chinese books, 

 which he had seen in his tent. They were immediately 

 brought, and the same ceremony was again gone through 

 with : he pushed them towards Humboldt, and Hum- 

 boldt pushed them gently back. When etiquette was 

 satisfied he accepted them. They proved to be a famous 

 historical novel — "San-kue-tchai," containing the history 

 of the three kingdoms into which China was divided, 

 after the Han dynasty. Humboldt told the commander 

 that he intended to give the books to his brother, who 

 was studying the Chinese language, and the commander 

 desired him to inscribe his name, Chin-foo, upon them. 

 He did so, and presented him with the pencil with 



