THE YARKAND AMBAN. 133 



doors were opened all right, and we were con- 

 ducted to a raised platform in the centre of the 

 room, on which were two chairs of sorts, with a 

 table between them, which we found afterwards 

 was so placed for the ceremony of drinking tea. 

 Having shown us to our seats, the Amban took 

 his in a sort of side aisle ; but the conversation 

 being carried on at third hand, our Hindustani 

 translating into Turki and the Turki again into 

 Chinese, it did not progress rapidly. 



The Amban said he hoped we had not suffered 

 from the length and hardships of our journey, 

 and that we found ourselves comfortable in 

 Yarkand. We replied that all the trouble and 

 fatigue of the journey was amply repaid by the 

 pleasure of arriving at such a charming spot, 

 where every one, and he especially, was so good 

 to us. Then came the usual questions as to the 

 reason for our journey. Next, for what purpose 

 we shot animals : was it to make medicine of 

 their horns or bones ? When we told him we 

 stuffed and preserved the heads, he said he sup- 

 posed we put them up to worship as idols ! and 

 on our replying that we did in a sort of way, 

 he seemed satisfied, and asked if we were afraid 

 to kill tigers. On saying that, on the contrary, 



