FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



their burdens. Amid these difficulties Francois suffered most. He 

 urged his pony at the mire, and promptly tumbled into the river. 

 Knowing- full well he would get no sympathy from us, he bore him- 

 self with offended dig- 

 nity, much enhanced 

 by the lamentable 

 state of his once showy 

 velvet boots, and 

 oravelv climbin<'" on 

 to his little grey was 

 presently trotting 

 ahead in search of a 

 camping ground. We 

 succeeded at length, 

 without much knowing 

 how, in reaching an 

 insignificant Chinese 

 village, where two 

 scanty rooms were 

 grudgingly assigned 

 us after prepayment. 

 However, a proper 

 bath soon made 

 amends for the April 

 fool's washing we had 

 already undergone. 



Francois. 



As the rain was over 1 sallied out to investigate, and hard b)- 

 came to a large tree in a hollow, with a small altar at its foot. The 

 platform was supported by uprights and cross pieces, and at its 

 sides were arranged some peeled Avands, with a bamboo trellis 



78 



