FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



the word " Salaam," and squatted. Two of them carried muzzle- 

 loaders. 



As we had no clue to their intentions, it gave us satisfaction to 

 observe the quiet promptness with which our men carried out 

 our instructions, given previous to entering the Pai country. The 

 packs were withdrawn, the tent closed, and our people grouped in 

 rear. A quaint scene ensued. We three seated at a table behind 

 a guttering candle, facing this solemn deputation, proceeded to 

 conduct a colloquy, of which, I imagine, not a sixth part reached 

 either party in intelligible form, — from us to Joseph, Joseph to 

 .Seran-Seli, Seran-Seli to a Kioutse with a few words of Lissou, 

 the latter to a Pai with fewer of Kioutse, and from this last to the 

 expectant group. Out of this chain of evidence we gathered that 

 the chief of Khamti had received a letter from the south with 

 threats of war. Had we any connection with this missive ? The 

 Pai, who constituted himself spokesman, addressed his remarks in 

 so loud a tone that Joseph took exception, and concluded that he 

 lied. In return, we assured them we were peaceably inclined, and 

 anxious to expound our views at greater length to their great 

 chiefs ; after which they took their departure as they had come, to 

 the lessening vibrations of the gong. 



Next day (19th November) we had not gone far before we 



perceived a thatched village, from which issued a number of 



inhabitants, who motioned us to stop. They had with them a 



bamboo tube enclosing two rolls of paper, one of which contained 



some writing in Pai or Burmese characters, signed in English as 



far as could be deciphered: '" Eniile . . . Art . . .," with a seal 



below it, " Seal of the Court of the Depiit . . . Bha . . . " ; the 



rest was effaced. This letter found here was curious, but it did 



not concern us, as we endeavoured to convey to the people. A few 



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