The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-06-28
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 malities, 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 afiixes to his acts
--"Tremble and obey" | am disposed
to obey, and am prepared to appear
before the authorities of the frontier. l
remember the fears of Kinko, and it is
with regard to him that the trembling Is
10 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 a few minutes afterward are in
the waiting room.
Al 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 it. There was Doctor ITO King
his "Cornaro" under his arm: Fulk Eph
rinell and Miss Horotin Bluett. mingling
their teeah and hair, fguratively, be 1t
understood; Sir Francis Trevellyan, mo-
tiOnless and silent, intractable and stiff.
smoking his cigar on the threshold: Faru-
skair. accompanied by Ghangir; 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, a functionary speaking
Russian fiuently. an interpreter for Ger
man. French and English.
The Chinese was II man about 80, with
a bald head, Il thick mustache, a long
pigtail, and spectacles on his nose. Wrap
ped in a flowery robe, fat as if he be-
longed to the most distinguished people
in the country. he had not progresses
ing face After all. it was only veriti-
cation of our papers. and AZ ours were
in order. it did not much matter how re-
pulsive he looked.
'What an air he has" murmnred
Madame Caterna.
'The air Of Chinaman," said her
husband. "and, frankly, do not like it."
am one of the first to present my
passport, which bears the visas Of the
consul at Tifis and the Russian authori-
ties Mt Uxun Ada. The functionary looks
NJ il attentively. When you are dealing
with n mandarin, you should always be
on the lookout. Nevertheless, the exam
nation raises no difficulty. aud the seal
Of the green dragon declares me all In
order.
The same result with regard to the
actor and actress. Nevertheless, il was
worth while looking at Caterna while
his papers were being examined. He
assumed the attitude of criminal en-
deavorlng to mOllify a magistrate he
made the sheepiest of eyes and smiles
absolutely the most deprecating smiles.
and seemed to implore a grace or rather
a favor. and yet the most obdurate of
the Cinnamon had not a word to say to
him.
Correct" said the interpreter.
THANK you, my prince" replied Ca
tcrna, with the accent of a Paris street
boy.
A TO Ephrinell and Miss Bluett, they
went through like q posted letter, IL an
American commercial and an English
ditto were not in order, who would be
Uncle Sam and John Bull are one as far
AZ that goes.
The other Travellers Russian and Tur-
koman, underwent examination without
any difAculty arising. Whether they were
first class or second class, they had full
filed the conditions required by the Chi.
nese administration, which levies rather
heavy fee for each visa, payable In rou-
bles, taels or sapeks.
CHAPTER XVI.
Among the travellers noticed an
American clergyman bound to Pekin.
This was the Rev. Nathaniel Morse of