200 ARRIVAL IN KHOTAN [CHAP. XII.
guest', and when informed of the object of my search readily offered me the use of his residence. I had disturbed him in the reading of a Turki version of Firdusi's Shahnama. My acquaintance with the original of the great Persian epic seemed to win for me at once the goodwill of my impromptu host, and I hesitated the less about accepting his offer. So
I'AN-DARIN, AMBAN OF RHOTAN, WITH PERSONAL ATTENDANTS.
when next morning my tent was pitched on the lawn in front of a shady clump of trees, I again enjoyed the peace and seclusion of a country residence.
At noon I paid my first visit to Pan-Darin, the Amban, after the usual preliminaries required by Chinese etiquette. Z found him a quiet, elderly man, with features that seemed to betoken thoughtfulness and honesty of purpose. His kindly
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