HANOI TO MONGTSE 



them of their presence, and, at the intercession of the Tsung-li- 

 Yamen, our troops received orders to dislodge the pirates from 

 the whole of Tulong. Those who troubled us no further now 

 returned into our territory ; to counterbalance which, and by 

 way of showing their obligation for our good offices, we had the 

 satisfaction of seeing more than one hundred and fifty Chinese 

 regulars transfer themselves to our enemies. Actually, upon the 

 right bank a band of more than three hundred might be counted. 

 Armed junks constantly patrol the river to guard the navigation. 

 But our troops are tired out : there are not enough of them. 



During our stay at Laokay we took part in a hunt which was 

 as curious as it was unexpected. Whilst at breakfast with M. 

 Dupont we saw a sudden stir at the water-side, people running 

 down to the river, and boats casting off as hard as they could. 

 Out we rushed : and here was the cause of all this hurly ; a 

 stag, which had innocently descended to the brink, had been 

 viewed and headed back by some soldiers on the right bank. 

 The entire population turned out in pursuit ; the waters were 

 churned by a struggling crowd of junks, pirogues or dug-outs, 

 and human beings, all making chase down stream. A light 

 tricolor on the head of the quarry alone was wanting to make 

 the game resemble a 14th July water - frolic. The poor beast 

 did not know which way to turn ; it managed to escape a blow 

 from a boat-hook, which only wounded it ; it was but to prolong 

 the agony, for some swimmers awaiting it lower down grappled 

 with and finished it. Then came the question as to who was 

 to eat it : every boatman, with a storm of oaths and protesta- 

 tions, claimed it as his own. In the midst of these awakened 

 appetites one felt inclined to pity the animal; but then, "que 

 diable aussi allait-il faire en cette galere .'' " 



