ROBBERY OF SILVER 201 
things quieted down a little, and on July 3 it was 
reported that the mandarin had sent a courier to 
Cheng-tu for instructions. The missionaries tell me 
that they have never known such anxious times. The 
people appear to have become quieter. 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 ot 
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 former 
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 a 
European country. I accordingly sent out collectors to 
