The sun., 1907-04-07
TALE OF LIFE IN The BRUSH.
= ARRIlGE OF FRENCH OFFICER
AND BUDDHIST PRIESTESS.
onfcsSiOns Ot a Post Commander ON the
chinese Frontier which Recall the RO-
mancc of Nine. Butterfly "A Love
Nnair IN French NnnaM and ITS EnCiins.

NUlntNe fEO0ueT WulcU Nttbu WV NO~
O'ancc of Nine. butterfly Love
Nnair IN French Nnnan and ITS Finding.
Eroul on Bias Of parts
there had already passed two months
-uce | was detached at the Yunnan from
-ar and designated rs lieutenant -comman-
OF Of the zone of Ba-Dieng. My detach-
.uant was composed of two European ser
eants and sixty Aanamte skirmishers
rom the delta with their wives and chill
.ran.
No' a single European colonist within
.yeniy lcagueel The nearest military post
vas two days journey by horseback For
INVERSION VIC might hunt the wild boar.
interest ourselves in the construction OF
hIockhouse Of dried brick. or from time to
lime exchange shots with some robbers
whom our good neighbors the Chinese
tnandarins sent into our territory.
Ny wards wore tHdN people oS the noun
ains Of the tribes of NIaus and Meos good
reople whose fidelity was proved. but whose
oonversatipn was totally devoid of interest.
My subordinate officers were worthy. honest
fellows, hut when the ono had smoked
several pipes and the other had consumed
two or three absinthes they considered them
selves he most fortunate of mortals.
had. 10 tell the truth, sought to procure
myself Centeel wife Of native blood but
the Annamites Of the delta who adventured
into our mountains we're the outcasts Of the
feminine population. Their mouths we're
stained with betel and their teeth we're
lacquered brilliant black.
II was with a sort of repulsion that
saw them going in rags from hut to hut,
WaddlinE in their high heelless shoes like a
wounded duck. As to the natives of the
region they were not to be thought Of; an
implacable law forbade to the women OF
the race of Mau any relations with for
egners.
had. then, the little alluring prospect
If passing two Of the best years OF my
youth in doleful bachelorhood.
II was thus with me when one day, in
company with my orderly, Luau, and my
faithful dog Mastoc, l wandered into a
ricefeld hunting game birds, and l en-
countered a herd of carabao barring my
way and advancing threateningly with
lowered horns. Luau had already begun
70 throw earth at the beasts to turn them
away, when a young girl appeared and
with a single cultural call assembled about
ler these water buffalo.
She was a little pink and white creature,
with sweet, velvety eyes smiling beneath
we'll arched brows. Her figure was slight
and supple.
A blue garment which extonded to her
feet was caught up at the shoulders by
buttons of red copper. Her hair was en-
folded In a black turban in the Annamite
mode, and she was shielded from the suns
rays by a conical hat of straw in the form
familiar in the Tanagra fgurines. She
paused, bushing and confused, in the
middle Of the rioefield, surrounded by the
gray bufaloes who paved the ground and
bellowed noisily.
When passed she bowed profoundly, her
hands clasped as when in prayer. Luau told
me that she was daughter OF the chief Of the
canton. My curiosity was excited 20 the high
estdegree, and returning to the post sought
me interpreter Phuong. Thus l learned
that the charming little one was called
Ti-Sia and that she was born at Sontay Of
an AnnAmite mother and young French
officer. Mother and daughter had come
10 the mountains as salt merchants and the
mother had married the chief OF the canton
" Ba-Dieng.
Ti-Sia had been raised in the most austere
rites OF the Buddhist religion; priestess Of
ths pagoda Of Ba-Dieng, it was she who at
he great religious celebrations was charged
WIN bAIIAlHR bllS bdSAOh AASNh0Cf "AN NCAAO
was more expert at eXpounding the sacred
myths or invoking the divinities OF the
forests and the mountains.
Chance then had placed before me one Of
Tho rare vestals OF the Buddhist cult. and
had given to her the rare beauty and charm
o' a Partisan. And she was one Of my
Vardsl Could anything further be needed
10 excite the imagination Of a man OF Is?
That same evening, escorted by Phuong,
repaired 10 the cabin Of the chief Of the
- anton and begged him TO present me to
his family. In so doing / violated all the
customs OF the Haute Region, but the
desire Of great French chieftain is a formal
order TO the poor devil OF q functionary
lost in the confines OF Yunnan and l abused
my authority without shame.
Ti-Sia and her mother were introduced,
and seated themselves respectfully at my
sIdes on mats placed before the altar Of the
iamily's household gods. For a month l
visited them every evening.
The useful Phuong had caused them TO
understand the material advantages OF a
'lnion Of Ti-Sia with the commandant Of
he region, and the promise OF golden
cOlarette such as only the wealthy OF
HanOy possess determined the consent Of
he beautiful child. Our betrothaI was
resolved upon, and my beautiful little love
made the rigorous condition that our mar
rage be celebrated according TO the rigid
rules Of the religion OF the Maus.
-, Well, my brothers, what would you?
he beauty Of Ti-Sia vas we'll worth a
mass, and al Ba rDieng I had NOT 70 fear
he raiilery Of ing coWFadeal Thsn too !
VI