The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-07-01
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
overfastidious, and we must put up with
It, We must not forget the terrible
threat of the formula the functionary Of
the Celestial Empire afixes to his acts
-"Tremble and obey" l am disposed
to obey, and l 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
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 it. There was Doctor Ticking,
his "Cornaro" under his arm; Fulk Eph-
rinell and Miss Horotia Bluett, mingling
their teeah and hair, figuratively, 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-
tails in uniform, functionary speaking
Russian huently, an Interpreter for Ger
man, French and English.
The Chinese was a man about so, with
bald head, a thick mustache, a long
pigtail, and spectacles on 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, it was only verif-
cation Of our papers, and as ours were
in order, it did not much matter how re-
pulsive he looked.
"What an air he has" murmured
Madame Caterna.
''The air Of a Chinaman," said her
husband, land, frankly, do not like it. y
I am one Of the first to present my
passport, which bears the visas of the
consul at Tifis and the Russian authori-
ties at Uzun Ada. The functionary looks
at it attentively. When you are dealing
with mandarin, you should always be
on the lookout. Nevertheless, the exam
nation raises no difficulty, and the seal
of the green dragon declares me all in
order.
The same result with regard to the
actor and actress. Nevertheless. it was
worth while looking at Caterna while
his papers were being examined. He
assumed the attitude Of criminal en-
deavoring to mollify magistrate. he
made the sheepiest of eyes, and smiles
absolutely the most deprecating smiles.
and seemed to implore grace or rather
q favor, and yet the most obdurata Of
the Cinnamon had not a word to say to
him.
Correct" said the interpreter.
'Thank you, my prince" replied Ca
terna, with the accent Of 4 Paris street
boy.
As to Ephrinell and Miss @Bluett. thev
went through like = posted letter. If An
American commercial and m English
ditto were not IN order, who would Be I
Uncle Sam and John Bull are one AZ far
as that goes.
The. other travellers, Russian and Tur-
Roman, 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 ron
blea, taels or sapeks.
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