FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



vanished. The other side was reached with the impetus of the 

 descent, and the shock broken by a band held by two men. The 

 mules were soon disposed of in the same manner. At every cross- 

 ing the running 

 line is greased, 

 Ijut even with 

 this precaution 

 the cords wear 

 out quickly. 

 When a new 

 connection has 

 to be estab- 

 lished, it is done 

 by a light line 

 attached to an 

 arrow, the 

 stream being 

 d an ge rousl y 

 strong for boats. 

 On the right 

 bank we were 

 met by Father 

 Dubernard, one 

 of the veterans 

 of the Thibet 

 Mission. In 

 twenty - eight 



years this is the second occasion on which he has seen European 

 travellers : the first was the Englishman Cooper. The reader 



may imagine what mutual pleasure our meeting therefore gave. 



218 



Father Soulie. 



