SSUMAO TO TALI 



latter as the perpetrator of both acts. Thereupon Manhao, or 

 Lohiang as he was equally called, heaping reproaches on the 

 makotou for his former brutality, enforced his innocence by driving 

 his knife into his persecutor three times, cutting him up rather 

 badly on his arm and both legs, though luckily without touching 

 an artery. He then fled. Here was another trait of Chinese 

 character — revenge sullenly nursed for a month and a half. 



We washed and dressed the wounds with antiseptics, in which 

 operation Sao again acquitted himself with credit. The rest of the 

 Chinese looked on with indifference, if not with satisfaction, 

 notably Francois, who gave his version of the story as rather 

 entertaining than otherwise. The callousness of these fellows for 

 each other was exasperating. How different from our Turkomans 

 at Lob-Nor, tending old sick Imatou like a child, and showing 

 lively concern for his suffering ! 



The following morning the scene was even more revolting. The 



makotou declared that he would go back on horseback at once, but 



finally yielded with a bad grace to my advice that he should rest a 



bit. Then he began about payment. This man, reduced as he was 



by fever, found strength to get up and drag himself before us ; and 



there with blood-smeared face and legs caked with gore, propped 



against a pack-saddle, he proceeded with palsied hands to haggle 



over his interests with such greed and tenacity as might have 



induced one to suppose he had nothing but a shilling-piece in the 



place where his heart ought to be. First he wanted us to give him 



the wages for his men. For a long time past we had paid these 



direct, in consequence of his cheating them : so that cock wouldn't 



fight. Then he accused them of being in his debt. We made each 



come singly with an account of the sum claimed. But by this time 



we were implacable to his subterfuges, and I verily believe that if 

 n 113 



