Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 699

1850.

Travels of M. Huc.

657

"Hitherto we have traveled in peace: and you, are you in peace? Which is your country?"

"We are Khalkas from the kingdom of Murgevan."

"Have the rains been abundant; are your flocks and herds prosperous ?"

"Everything is in peace in our pasturages."

“Whither is your caravan bound ?"

"We are going to prostrate ourselves before the 'Five Towers.' "* A sudden storm disconfited our travelers at their next station, and but for a Tartar, who brought them a supply of dry argols, they must have gone supperless to bed. This Tartar had marched two years before against the "Rebels of the South," as the Chinese called the English, bat, being a Tchakar, had not been in action. His account of the war was truly national. When the enemy appeared, he related, the kitat, or militia, was as usual summɔned to disperse them; but the enemy were marine monsters, who lived in the water like fish, and when least ex pected they came to the surface, and threw out fiery pumpkins (sí-kwá, so they called the shells). So the banners of Solon were put in motion, but they could not stand the heat of the south, and the emperor issued his orders that the Tchakar force should advance. A lama was attach- ed to each troop to protect them from the marine monsters; but when the rebels saw the invincible Tchakars adyancing, they became terri- fied, and sued for peace. The Holy Master, in his unmeasurable clemency, granted it to them, and we returned to our prairies to tend our flocks.

These Tchakars are all soldiers, and they are trooped under eight differently colored banners. They are strictly forbidden to cultivate the land, and they tend as well as their own flocks those of the em- peror, which are said to be immensely numerous. The horses alone are said to compose 369 herds of 1200 horses in each. This is about as good a specimen of Tartaro-Chinese exaggeration as was the ac- count of hail as large as millstones. These Tartars live in balloon- shaped huts, and like most pastoral people, are very hospitable. Ta approach them it requires a stick to keep off the ferocious dogs, but

* The Lamazary of Wútii, or of the Five Towers, in the province of Shận- si, is the inost famous place of sepulture of the Mongols. Budha himself is said to dwell in an adjacent mountain. Our readers will remember the story told of the precaution taken by the Rosicrusians to preserve the secret of the perpetual flame; cur travelers relate something similar of the tombs of Tartar princes, whose riohes, buried with them, are defended from sacrilege by a number of bows which shoot arrows one after another at any one who ventures within the sepulchre.

VOL. XIX. NO. XII.

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