184 Sport and Life in the Further Himalaya 



It may be we have before us nothing less 

 than the arrival of Cocachin, the fair lady of 

 Cathay, sent with Marco Polo to be the Persian 

 king's bride. 



The princess is received by the mandarin with 

 great state and ceremony, but his advances in 

 the rdle of lover are repulsed. After much 

 "business" she re-embarks and orders her mariners 

 to take her home. On the voyage a storm arises, 

 and in spite of the strenuous efforts of the crew 

 the ship runs aground, and the princess is in 

 dire peril. The dens ex machind arrives in the 

 shape of the despised suitor, who effects a rescue. 

 A reconciliation takes place, the now lovers light 

 each other's opium pipes, and the scene ends in 

 the triumphant exit of all. 



It was now late and we took our leave, the 

 Wazir escorting us to the end of the garden ; 

 and so home through the deserted streets. The 

 dub-dub of the unwearying drums, however, con- 

 tinued for long after, showing us the Wazir's 

 "At Home" was still going on. 



