The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-07-22
CHAPTER XIV.


What was not done at the frontier has
to be done at Kachgar. Russians and
Chinese are one as bad as the other
when there are vexing formalities, papers
to verify, passports to sign, etc. 1t is
the same sort of meddling, minute and
07erfastidious, and VIC must put M with
It. We must not forget the terrible
threat of the formula the functionary Of
the Celestial Empire afixes to his acts
-"Tremble and obeyw l am disposed
to obey, and am prepared Ito HapDeaf
before the authorities Of the frontier. II
remember the fears of Kinko, and itsis
with regard to him that the trembHng4is
to be done, if the examination Of the
travellers extends to their packages and
luggage
1t is 10 o'clock when a stroke Of the
gong announces that the police formali-
ties are about to begin. We leave the
table and few minutes afterward are in
the waiting room.
All my numbers are present, with the
exception, of course, of Kinko, who
would have done honor to our breakfast
If it had been possible for him to take
part in 1t. There was Doctor TIC King,
bis "CornarO" under his arm; Fulk Eph-
nneii and Miss HorOtia Bluett, mingling
their teeah and hair, iguratively, be it
understood; Sir Francis Trevellyan, mo-
toniess and silent, intractable and stiff,
smoking his cigar on the threshold; Faru-
skair, accompanied by Changer; Russian,
Iurkoman, Chinese travelers-in all
nom sixty to eighty persons. Every one
mad In his turn to present himself at the
table, which was occupied by two Celes-
uais in uniform, functionary speaking
Russian fuently, an interpreter for Ger
man, French and English. 81
Inc Chinese was q man about 50, with
bald head, a thick mustache, long
~gtall' and spectacles on his nose. Wrap
pea IN flowery robe, fat as if he be-
onged to the most distinguished people
IN the country, he had not a progresses
ing face. After all, it was. only verift-
Sation OF our papers, and as ours were
NJ oruer, 1t did not much matter how re-
pulsive he looked.
~ What an air he has," murmured
Madame Caterna. - = 49, ~
Inc air Of a Chinaman," said her
husband, land, frankly, 1 do not like it."
am one of the first to present my
passport which bears the visas Of the
sonSui at Tltis and the Russian authori-
ues at Uzun Ada. The functionary looks
4 ~ 1t attentively. When you are dealing
"'n mandarin, you should always be
w tne lookout Nevertheless, the exam
nr raises no difficulty, and the seal
order "io "'i Al
IN. Inc same result with regard to the
S WV" ana actress. Nevertheless, it was
S MOfth while looking at Caterna while
- papers were being examined. He
assumed sed the attitude of a criminal en-
w u"aaorlng to mollify a magistrate, he
shs. me sheepiest of eyes, and smiles
SUs the most deprecating smiles.
S seemed to implore a grace or rather
Nvor, and yet the most obdurata of
SIs hue onlnamen had not a word to saw to
.a TT1rreet'" said the interpreter.
Anank you, my prince" renlied 10.
boy. "seen' OF Paris street
as TO Ephrinell and Miss RIue++ .bsx
Amen through like posted letter. If an
ditto ma commercial and an English
Unclo S S not IN order. who would be Z
as tSat sam and John Bull are one as far
koman 0.ner travellers, Russian and Tur-
any disa underwent examination without
inst oIaSa arising Whether they were
filed as OF second class, they had fuI-
. nese . tne conditions required by the Chi
hesyv fnnlnistration, which levies a rather
bes, tee nee Tor each visa, payable In rou-
"els or sapeks.