Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-08-05
CHAPTER Ky.

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
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 l nm disposed
to obey, and l am prepared to appear
before the authorities Of the frontier.
remember the fears Of Kinko, and 1t Is
with regard to him that the trembling Is
to be done, II 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.
AN 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 it. There was Doctor Tio-King,
his "Cornaro" under his arm; Fulk Eph-
rinell and Miss Horotia Bluett, mlngling
their teeah and hair. fguratively, be it
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, q functionary speaking
Russian fuently, an interpreter for Ger
man. French and English
The Chinese was a man about 80, with
n bald head, a thick mustache, n long
pigtail, and spectacles Cd his nose. Wrap
ped in 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, II was only a verif
cation of our papers, and as ours were
In order, 1t did not much matter how re
pusive he looked.
what an afr he has" murmured
Madame Caterna.
1.-The air of a Chinaman," said hei
husband, land, frankly, l do not like 1t. >
| am one of the first to present my
passport which bears the visas of the
, consul at Tihls and the Russian authori
ties at Uzun Ada. The functionary look,
nj II 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 IL
l order.
The same result with regard to tn
2 actor and actress. Nevertheless, It wa
4 worth while looking at Caterna Will
3 his papers were being examined. IL
~. assumed the attitude Of a criminal en-
deavoring to mollify a magistrate, h
made the sheepiest of eyes, and smile
absolutely the most deprecating smiles
and seemed to implore grace or rattle
+ favor, and yet the most obdurate o
4 the Cinnamon had not a word to say I
D him.
Correct" said the interpreter.
,. THANK you, my prince" replied Ca
=. terna. with the accent of a Paris stree
e boy.
As to Ephrinel and Miss Bluett, the
> went through like a posted letter. II a
American commercial and an Englis
o ditto were not in order, who would be
Uncle Sam and John Bull are one as ia
I as that goes.
e The other travellers, Russian and Tui
l. koman. underwent examination withou
, any difficulty arising. Whether they wer
first class or second class. they had fu
. filed the conditions required by the Oh
u nese administration, which levies rattle
|. heavy fee for each visa, payable in rol
bles, taels or sapeks.