Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 237 (Color Image)

0237	Among the Celestials : vol.1

CHAP. Viii.] CHINESE OFFICIALS. 197

partly because I had no proper interpreter, and

partly because I was travelling in such a quiet

way that the official probably would not care to

return my visit in a wretched traveller's inn.

Chinese officials surround themselves with a

good deal of state when they appear in public,

and it seems to go as much against the grain

with them to visit a stray foreigner in a

traveller's serai as it would to the mayor of an

English town if he were expected to get into

his full livery and go with all civic ceremony to

call upon a wandering Chinaman putting up at

the local " Blue Posts." As a rule, therefore,

I merely sent my passport and my card up to

the chief official, said I had just arrived, and

would leave the next day, or whenever it was,

and that I regretted I should not be able to do

myself the pleasure of calling on him. But

this governor of Yarkand showed particular

civility, and sent me several friendly messages,

so I called upon him on the afternoon after my

arrival.

He received me with the usual politeness of

a Chinese official, but with more cordiality.

His residence here in Yarkand, at the very

extremity of the Chinese Empire, was of

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