FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



intrepid spirit, who, in the flower of youth, with name and 

 fortune, was willing to throw in his lot with mine, in the hope 

 that he might perhaps some day return to do good work for 

 our colonies. 



The void caused by this event only served to bind us who 

 survived more closely to each other and to our task. Roux 

 having at this time received the sanction for his colonial transfer, 

 we two resolved to carry out the original project of the three, 

 and set about our preparations in earnest. 



Whilst he proceeded to Hong-Kong to perform the sad duty 

 of embarking the body of M. de Grandmaison, and to consult 

 with M. Desgodins, the well-known missionary of Thibet, besides 

 making various purchases, I remained at Hanoi adjusting baggage 

 and encragfinor followers. 



During these preliminaries a providential accession was made 

 to our little band in the person of M. Briffaud, one of the older 

 inhabitants of the colony, who had passed eleven years in Tonkin. 

 He was on the point of returning to France, but being a pioneer 

 at heart was attracted by our enterprise, and asked to be allowed 

 to join us as a volunteer. I recalled the instance of Father 

 Ddd^kens, who, si.x years before, on his way home to Belgium, 

 elected to make a detour in our company. And a detour it 

 proved, for it lasted a year, and traversed Central Asia 

 and Thibet. But, like Father Ddd^kens, Briffaud also was 

 gifted with the sacred fire ; he was inured to the hardships of 

 travel, and possessed experience, health, and a cheerful disposition. 

 These were more than enough to ensure him a hearty reception 

 as one of ourselves. 



On the morning of 26th January 1895 we set out from Hanoi 

 on board the Yiiniian. Besides our three selves, our party 



4 



