BOBBERY OF SILVER 201 



things quieted down ;i little, and on July 3 it was 

 reported that the mandarin had sent a courier to 

 Gheng-tu for instructions. The missionaries tell me 

 that they have never known such anxious times. The 

 people appear to have become qnietei-. Had this mob 

 assembled at places like Chung-king or Kia-ting-fu, all 

 the foreigners would probably have been massacred^ 

 but here the people are all traders and more peaceably 

 inclined. 



July 16. — Last night Prince Henri was robbed oi) 

 silver to the value of 300 taels, and various other 

 articles, the thieves effecting an entrance by a window 

 after having climbed over the wall of the inn courtyard. 

 The mandarin, on being informed of the theft, acted in 

 a very half-hearted manner, and none of the stolen 

 property was recovered. The Prince had no passport, 

 and therefore no responsibility rested with the mandarin. 

 If he had been properly provided with one, the formei* 

 trouble would probably not have arisen. 



Soon after I arrived at Ta-tsien-lu I found that, by 

 taking trouble, I could procure eggs of the Crossoptilon 

 Tibetanum, and I thought that by getting these hatched 

 out under fowls, I might be able to take some young 

 birds of this remarkably fine species home, considering 

 that they were well-adapted for acclimatization in ;3, 

 European country. I accordingly sent out collectors to 



