Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 131 (Color Image)

0131	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

LAN-CHOW TO TANGAR 97

as much money as possible out of the venture

was tacked on, and the result was that they

swallowed up all the profit and the mine had to

be closed down.

By the Chinese officials also Pereira was

hospitably entertained in Lan-chow. The Postal

Commissioner, Mr. Chan-bu-to, he describes as

belonging to the very small number of really

honest Chinese officials. The Military Governor,

Lu Hung-tao, he found to be a nice easygoing

official of the old school who did not trouble

much about political affairs. He was handi-

capped by having no money, as his predecessor

had cleared the Kansu bank and got away with all the money in 1921. The Civil Governor, Pen-

lung-Kao, a Chihli man, was much more energetic.

The Peking Government, wishing to appoint him

to the post but fearing that if they sent him at

once as Civil Governor the local people would

refuse to accept him, sent him first as Opium

Inspector. The plan worked well, as he waited

till he was firmly fixed in office and then declared

himself Civil Governor.

Jen-chien, the Taoyin-Hsui, was reported to

be absolutely honest and a poor man in conse-

quence. When he was asked by his superiors

what reforms he advised he boldly replied that

all Provincial Treasurers should be foreigners

—

a bold suggestion for a Chinese official to make.

The police magistrate was a fat little man of not

much enterprise. The police force of the city

numbered three hundred and were a slovenly,

useless lot of men. The Military Governor gave

Pereira and other European guests an excellent and

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