On the Plateau of Yunnan 13 
retainers seemed to spring up on every hand from the 
very paving stones. A few minutes later somebody called 
out in a loud voice that the great man was ready, the gates 
were flung open, and I marched across the inner court and 
up the steps to where the mandarin, a kindly-looking grave- 
faced man with delicate hands and long moustaches, stood 
waiting to receive me; I bowed low to him, and acknow- 
ledging the salutation he ushered me into a small room, 
plainly furnished in excellent taste if not scrupulously clean. 
In the centre of the apartment was a round table covered 
with heavy red cloth, and at the far end a low dais with 
two cushioned seats upholstered in similar fashion. Set 
against the side walls in severe symmetry were two small 
square tables, in some dark varnished wood, flanked by 
chairs to match, all rather gawky, stiff, and uncomfortable ; 
and the walls themselves were hung with long scrolls, 
some bearing crude sketches of scenery, others displaying 
proverbs or quotations from the classics. The trellised 
window frames were covered with tough translucent paper, 
letting in plenty of light for ordinary purposes, besides 
plenty of air. That was all—only the floor was of rough 
boards, neither varnished nor carpeted, very dusty and 
bearing signs in the shape of burnt matches, nut-shells, cigar- 
ette ends and numerous expectorations, of previous visitors. 
It was a typical guest room of a native Yamen. ‘ Please 
be seated” said the Prefect motioning me to the left-hand 
seat on the dais—the seat of honour, and himself taking 
the right hand, while Ho-shing sank into one of the seats 
of dishonour and discomfort against the wall lower down 
the room, and the retainers stood in an expectant knot 
round the door. Ho-shing then explained the object of 
my visit, and after the Prefect had asked a few questions, 
I lifted the cup of tea which had been brought me in token 
of departure, rose, and took leave. 
The only practical result of the interview was that 
I had to spend a day in Yung-ch‘ang while two soldiers 
returned to P‘u-p‘iao to recover my lost property ; and need- 
less to say they returned the same evening empty-handed. 
It is the misfortune of China that the innocent frequently 
suffer with the guilty, since it is the crime, and not neces- 
sarily the criminal that is punished. While therefore it is 
