Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-06-23
CHAPTER XIV.

w nat was not zone at the IFOuCler mas
TO be done at Kachgar. Russians and
Chinese are one as bad as the other
when there are yexing 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 obeyp' 1 am disposed
to obey and 1 am prepared to appear
before the authorities of the frontier.
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 Tio-King,
his "Cornaro' under his arm; Fulk Eph-
rineIl and Miss Horotia Bluett, mingling
their teeah and hair, fguratively, be il
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 al
from sixty to eighty persons. Every one
had in his turn to present himself at the
table, which was occupied by two Celes
tiaIs in uniform, functionary speaking
Russian fuently, an interpreter for Ger
man, French and English.
The Chinese was a man about so, witt
a bald head, thick mustache, a lons
pigtaii, and spectacles ON his nose. Wrap
ped in flowery robe, fat as if he be
longed to the most distinguished peopl
in the country, he had not prepossess
ing face. After all, it was only verif
cation of our papers, and as ours wer
in order, it did not much matter how re
pulsive he looked.
.sWhat an air he has," murmuret
Madame Caterna.
"The air of a Chinaman," said he
husband, s'and, frankly, do not like it.
I am one of the first to present m,
passport, which bears the visas of tn
consul at Tiflis and the Russian authori
ties at Uzun Ada. The functionary look
at it attentively. When you are dealin
with 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
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. Fl
assumed the attitude of criminal en-
deayoring to mollify a magistrate, h
made the sheepiest of eyes, and smile
absolutely the most deprecating smiles
and seemed to implore grace or rathe
favor, and yet the most obdurate Q
the Cinnamon had not word to say t
him.
"Correct," said the interpreter
ssThank you, my prince" replied Ca
terna. with the accent of Paris stree
boy.
As to Ephrinell and Miss Bluett, the
went through like 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 fa
as that goes.
The other travellers, Russian and Tu
koman, underwent examination witho,
any difficulty arising. Whether they wei
first class or second class, they had fu
filed the conditions required by the Ch
nese administration, which levies rath,
heavy fee for each visa, payable in rol
bles. taels or sapeks.