The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-08-04
CHAPTER XIV.

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
overfastidious, and we must put up with
It. We must not forget the terrible
threat of the formula the functionary Of
the Celestial Empire affixes to his acts
-'Tremble and obeyw am disposed
to obey, and l am prepared to appear
before the authorities Of the frontier. l
remember the fears Of Kinko, and 1t Is
with regard to him that the trembling Is
to be done, If the examination Of the
travellers extends to their packages and
luggage.
1t is 10 o'clock when stroke Of the
gong announces that the police formali-
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
II It had been possible for him to take
part In 1t. There was Doctor To-King,
his "Cornaro" under his arm; Fulk Eph.
rinell and Miss Horotia Bluett, minglinG
understood; Sir Francis Trevellyan. mo-
tionless and silent, intractable and stiff
smoking his cigar on the threshold; Faru.
skair, accompanied by Changer; Russian
Turkoman, Chinese travelers-in all
from sixty to eighty persons. Every one
had In his turn to present himself at the
table, which was occupied by two Celes
tials In uniform, functionary speaking
Russian fuently, an interpreter for Ger
man, French and English.
The Chinese was a man about 30, with
a bald head, a thick mustache, a long
pigtail, and spectacles on his nose. Wrap
ped in a fowery robe, fat as if he be
longed to the most distinguished people
in the country, he had not a progresses
ing face. After all, it was only a verii
cation Of our papers, and as ours wer,
in order, 1t did not much matter how re
pulsive he looked.
"What an air he has," murmuret
Madame Caterna.
''The air of a Chinaman," said he
husband, land, frankly, do not like 1t.
I am one of the first to present m,
passport, which bears the visas Of thu
consul at Tifis and the Russian authori
ties at Uzun Ada. The functionary look
at it attentively. When you are dealing
with a mandarin, you should always b.
on the lookout. Nevertheless, the exam
nation raises no difficulty, and the sea
of the green dragon declares me all II
order.
The same result with regard to tn
actor and actress. Nevertheless, It wa
worth while looking at Caterna Will
his papers were being examined. H
assumed the attitude Of a criminal en-
deavoring to moilify a magistrate, h
made the sheepiest of eyes, and smile
absolutely the most deprecating smiles
and seemed to implore a grace or rathe
a favor, and yet the most obdurate o
the Cinnamon had not a word to say t
him.
Correct" said the interpreter.
'Thank you, my prince" replied Ca
terna, with the accent of Paris stree
boy.
As to Ephrinell and Miss Bluett, the
went through like a posted letter. If a,
American commercial and an Englis
ditto were not In order, who would be
Uncle Sam and John Bull are one as ia
as that goes.
The other travellers, Russian and Tul
koman, underwent examination withou
any dificulty arising. Whether they wer
first class or second class, they had flu
filled the conditions required by the Oh
nese administration, which levies q rattle
heavy fee for each visa, payable In FOL
bles, taels or sapeks.