418 



ALAEM OF THE INMATES. 



Chap. XXI. 



In order to alarm the inmates as little as pos- 

 sible, our guide went first, and tlie rest followed 

 close beliind liim, in order to get in before the 

 door was shut and barred in our faces, a proceed- 

 ing which we thought not improbable if those 

 inside became alarmed. The guide knocked at 

 the door, told his name, and said he was a native 

 of Poo-in-chee, who had lost his way amongst the 

 mountains, and sought shelter from the wind and 

 rain. When the door was opened we took care 

 that it should remain so until the fears of the 

 inmates were quieted. The moment the old 

 woman saw a foreigner she manifested the great- 

 est signs of alarm, and fetreated to the farthest 

 corner of the building, at the same time pulling 

 her little boy along with her. In vain I seconded 

 my guide and servants in their efforts to convince 

 her that she had nothing to fear ; I was a " white 

 devil," and that seemed to be the only idea she 

 would allow to take possession of her mind. 



In other circumstances I would have gone away 

 and left the old lady to recover her composure ; 

 but this was at present almost impossible. After, 

 therefore, assuring her for the last time that she 

 had nothing to fear, we drew near to the fire and 

 gladly warmed ourselves. In a little while the 

 boy began to be more friendly, and eventually the 

 old woman herself came out of the corner and 

 threw some fresh wood on the fire. The " ice was 

 now broken," and our friendship was further 

 cemented by the present of a few cash, which 



