Washington sentinel., 1898-09-24
IT., -, SENTINEL
Exciting Times in Teng Nueh.
TrageL


eign chow chow with us. Ihey
sat perched like monkeys, With
their feet on the impromptu chairs,
and were evidently so delighted
with English timed salmon, TIM
ned mutton, and timed fruit, that
the three following nights they
came to dinner unasked. While
the,' were gurgling at our sad at
tempts to pronounce Chinese, and
we were defying them to pro-
nounce Auchtermuchty and hccle-
feechan as a Scotsman insists they
should be pronounced, full moon
face loomed out oi the darkness |
behind us, and a voice said, II
speakee very good English IAN
guage, me speakee very clever, l
like go with English gentlemans.
China very bad country, and go
with you. Givey me what YOU
like. l satisfied" 1t was youth
who had learned pigeon English
in the service OF a British ottlcial
in Burma, and had come home to
Ting Yueh, and was ANXIOUS 10
earn a few hundred thousand bon
est cash by being interpreter. We
had a wild and hilly region to pass
through, and the lad had pony
So we engaged him for a month.
We christened him Don Juan, not
because of any amorous procllvi-
ties, but because it was rather like
his Chinese name, and certainly
easier to say. He was a bright
fellow, and his English, though
peculiar, had an aldermanic, Porty,
postpranllial smoothness, that was
grateful and comforting.
What, however, was neither
grateful nor comforting, was the
prospect that after tine first nine
miles out of Teng Yueh we should
be among tue hills, and have to
walk. Trundling bicycles over
rocks had lost some of its fascina-
ton, and through the Wun, the
digni6ed wearer OF the Peacock 5
Feather, we engaged six coolies to
accompany US seventy miles. One
of them had nothing else to do but
to carry money. But frst OF all
we made the coolies an advance OF
ASIA cash to gain their good opln-
ion. The bicycles wei in the
street. Don Juan on his pony
dressed in a little briet authority,
and as important as Bumble-the
coolies were laden with baggage,
and the thoroughtare was packed
with a laughing, good natured
Chinese mob. Then the chief OF
the coolies turned obstreperous.
He was a weazel faced, raucous
throated rascal, and he took it into
his head that ASIA cash was not a
sufficient advance, and he must
have 4,3o8. He was told he would
have nothing of the kind. There
upon he became abusive, threw his
bundle upon the ground, and re-
garded us with slant eyed con
tempt. We demanded that the
coolies should advance. Every
Chinaman for thirty yards rounc
shouted advice. We were in {
minority, the crowd began scoffing
and our rebellious gentleman die
not improve matters by openly
houting us and exciting a row
We argued tor half an hour, and
anxious to escape into the country
compromised by advancing fur
Their 600 cash, and promising the
remainder in the evening. HI
took the money. But two minute!
later he said he would not move ;
step till the whole amount wa
paid. We rushed our bicycle
back into the foul inn Yard, got tn
coolies to bring in the luggage
cornered the chief ot the gang AM
made him refund the money W
had paid him, and all the Will
the four soldiers were slashing a
the bowling ruffians who tried t
force an entrance. "Now," W
h said to the noisy rebel, 1--WE vii
Noccupy the rest of the day in tax
ing you before the Wun at tn
Yamenp What did he care tor tn
Wunp What did he care tor tn
Yamsn7 What did he care 70
three foreign devils like US? II
derided US. Dunn remained be
hind to guard the property, an
the other called upon the soldie
to bring the man along to the pa
ace. He came without any fore
ing, grinning and making face
and as we hurried through the ma
row, crowded streets, we were TO
lowed by an uproanous rabble.
When we arrived at the Yame
we were IN anything but a saint
mood. The Chief Magistrate {
the city, dressed from head to foC
in a brilliant blue silk robe, an
surrounded by lesser city luminai
les in less dazzling attire, receive
us gra ;iously. We stated OF
grievance. We were British sut
iects, and had been insulted. Ir
stead Of receiving protection, as "
were entitled to, we had been e1
posed to the molestatian of mo
and the offensive railings Of ru
fan. And so on. We decline
to be concIliated by the assertic
OF the Chief Magistrate that the ms
was ignorant and knew no bette
He and the people Of Ting YuS
would have to learn that foreiG
travellers were to be treated wi
respect, SAID we. We endeavor,
to be both indignant and dignife
All this time the coolie had be-
standing sullen. When spoken
by the magistrate, down he dro
ped on his knees and touched q