BACK TO AKSU. 2O/ 



ing ! After a little while the crowd was separ- 

 ated, and penned up like a flock of sheep : those 

 who accused the Beg, being in the minority, were 

 now going to catch it ! Eight or ten soldiers 

 next appeared on the scene, armed with sticks, 

 and walked in among the wretched people, 

 thrashing them in the most unmerciful way. 

 Having settled this little matter, the Amban 

 sent word he was ready to receive me, so I pro- 

 ceeded to the hall of audience, when the large 

 doors were thrown open, and the great man met 

 and led me in. We exchanged the usual civili- 

 ties, drank tea, and smoked a pipe together, and 

 then taking my leave, I went on to the Dotai. 

 On asking for him at his y#man t I was told he 

 was not able to receive company, some friends 

 having come to pay him a visit they were all 

 dead drunk together ! so left my card and rode 

 back to Aksu. 



Just outside the city there was a fortified bar- 

 rack in which were quartered a lot of Chinese sol- 

 diers, who gave me a proof that the old Chinese 

 saying, " We do not make nails out of good iron, 

 or soldiers out of good men," is founded on fact. 

 As a rule, when I passed by any of these soldiers 

 they made what I gathered to be impertinent and 



