198 IN TIBET AND CHINESE TURKESTAN.
for my guests, and the number of those who accepted my invitation greatly exceeded my anticipation. The repast was served in the little courtyard of the house I occupied, and in accordance with local etiquette I appeared among the guests, addressed to them a few words of welcome, and tasted the food, which was indeed appetising. The guests did not linger over the repast. The huge portions served to them rapidly disappeared, washed down with
FEEDING DIT FRIENDS AT POLU.
many cups of tea, and then the villagers filed out. I was subsequently informed that they not only did justice to the viands, but expressed their kindly appreciation of my motives in providing the feast.
Afraid lest the villagers should get into trouble on my account, I inquired whether I ought to keep silence concerning the assistance they had rendered me, and I was a little surprised to find that they desired no concealment.
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