Volume 1
Travels in Tartary, Thibet and China, 1844-1846 / translated by William Hazlitt; now edited with an introduction by Professor Paul Pelliot.
- Évariste Régis Huc
- Date:
- [1928]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Travels in Tartary, Thibet and China, 1844-1846 / translated by William Hazlitt; now edited with an introduction by Professor Paul Pelliot. Source: Wellcome Collection.
408/446 page 354
![things. They were not, however, so wholly absorbed in the investigations of the industry and manners of China as to withdraw their attention altogether from its natural productions. The willows, especi¬ ally, attrafted their interest ; and when at all within their reach, they did not fail to pluck the tender branches, which they masticated with entire satis¬ faction. Sometimes, also, expanding their long necks, they would smell the various delicacies displayed over the inn doors, a circumstance which, of course elicited vehement protests from the innkeepers and other persons concerned. The Chinese were not less Struck with our camels, than our camels were with China. The people collected from all directions to see the caravan pass, and ranged themselves on each side of the road ; taking care, however, not to approach too near the animals which excited their surprise, and whose Strength they inStinCfively dreaded. Towards the close of this day’s march we arrived at Hia-Ho-Po [Hsia-ho-p’o], a large village without ramparts. We proceeded to dismount at the Hotel of the Five Felicities (Ou-Fou-Tien [Wu-fu-tien]). We were occupied in giving forage to our beaSts, when a horseman bearing a white button on his cap appeared in the court of the inn. Without dismounting, or making the accuStomed salutation, he proceeded to bawl for the landlord. “ The great Mandarin is on his way here,” cried he, in curt and haughty tones ; “ let everything be clean and well swept. Let these Tartars go and lodge elsewhere ; the great Mandarin will not have camels in the inn.” Coming from the courier of a Mandarin, these insolent words did not surprise, but they irritated us. We pretended not to hear them, and quietly pursued our occupation. The innkeeper, seeing that we paid no attention to the order that had been made, advanced towards us, and laid before us, with politeness mingled with](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b3135953x_0001_0408.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
