nothing more than a simple piece of masonry, and sometimes a modest rampart of earth. We even occasionally saw their famous wall reduced to its most simple expression, and composed solely of some heaped stones.*

to give us a proof of his sagacity, called upon us to say without hesitation whether we were not English: and, to leave no doubt of the meaning of his question, he added, that by Ing-kie-li, he meant the " seadevils" who had made war on Canton." No, we It may be observed, with reference to the land are not English; and not devils of any kind, whether frontiers of the Chinese empire on the west, that of the sea or of the earth." An idler came up, very the authority of the emperor, instead of abruptly tempestuous examination: "You," said he to the innluckily, just in time to remove the ill effect of this encountering the hard outline of an entirely inde-keeper, "do not know how to look at the human form. pendent authority, is shadowed off by something How dare you pretend that these people are Yangof a blended jurisdiction. "There exists in the Kan- kouei-tse? Don't you know that they have all blue sou, and upon the frontiers of the province of Sse- eyes and red hair?"-" You are right," said the innTchouan, many tribes who thus govern themselves, keeper, "I had not considered it well.”—“ No, cerunder special laws. All bear the denomination of tainly," added we, "you have not. Do you think Tou-sse, to which is added the family name of their that marine monsters could live upon land as we do, chief or sovereign." (P. 36.) We find in another and ride on horseback?"-" Oh, that's right, it is place that this prevails to the south-west, on the just so; the Ing-kie-li, they say, never dare to quit borders of Ava. "On the outskirts of the empire, the sea; as soon as they get on land they tremble and towards the west, are a number of towns or stations, die, like fish taken out of water."-They talked much called Too-sse, or native jurisdictions,' where the of the manners and character of sea-devils, and after aborigines are more or less independent, and where all was said, it was settled that we were not at all of the same race.] there is, in fact, a kind of divided authority, each party being immediately subject to its own chiefs. This is particularly true of the Lolos."-The Chinese, vol. i.

It is an odd result of our war with China, that something of the same principle should have been established by treaty at the Five Ports of trade on the opposite side of the empire. British subjects are there entirely independent of the Chinese law, and governed by their own consuls, who act under ordinances framed by the governor and legislative council of Hong-kong, confirmed by her majesty in council. The inference from the frequency of these "native jurisdictions" is, that Chinese law, as administered towards foreigners, becomes intoler-idols, and the Romish idols images, we do not think able; so at least it proved at Canton.

It would be a pity to spoil the following passage by a translation:

These volumes contain the most detailed and complete account of Lamanism that we remember ever to have met with; and they confirm, on the authority of these Romish priests themselves, the astonishing resemblance that exists between the external rites and institutions of Buddhism and those of the Church of Rome. Besides celibacy, fasting, and prayers for the dead, there are enshrined relics, holy water, incense, candles in broad day, rosaries of beads counted in praying, worship of saints, processions, and a monastic habit resembling that of the mendicant orders. Although our worthy missionaries call the images of Lamanism the distinction is worth much, and therefore may throw in this item with the rest; the more especially as, on the summary principle of "inveniam viam, aut faciam," the commandment against idol Notre aubergiste, un Chinois pur-sang, pour nous donner une preuve de sa sagacité, nous demanda sans worship has been thrust bodily out of their Decatergiverser si nous n'étions pas Anglais; et pour ne logue by the Romanists, as may be seen from any laisser aucun doute à sa question, il ajouta qu'il enten- copy of the Missal. It is remarkable that these dait par Ing-kie-li les "diables marins," qui faisai- very missionaries had an image made for their own ent la guerre à Canton. Non, nous ne sommes pas adoration, from a European model, at a place on Anglais; nous autres, nous ne sommes diables d'au- their journey where a huge image of Buddha had cune façon, ni de mer, ni de terre. Un désœuvré vint just been cast, and sent off to Lhassa. (Vol. i., fort à propos détruire le mauvais effet de cette inter- p. 41.) Thus the object of their worship was a pellation intempestive.-Toi, dit-il à l'aubergiste, tu molten image, the work, not only of men's, but ne sais pas regarder les figures des hommes. Com-pagan hands, employed indifferently for either ment oses-tu prétendre que ces gens là sont des Yang- Buddhism or Romanism. kouei-tse? Est-ce que tu ne sais pas que ceux-ci ont It is at once curious, and an instructive lesson to les yeux tout bleus, et les cheveux tout rouges?-C'est unprejudiced minds, to observe that M. Huc, while juste, dit. l'aubergiste, je n'avais pas bien réfléchi. he indulges in pleasantries at the expense of the Non, certainement, ajoutâmes-nous, tu n'avais pas bien réfléchi. Crois-tu que des monstres marins pourraient, Buddhists, entirely forgets how applicable his commes nous, vivre sur terre, et seraient capables d'al-sarcasms are to his own side of the question. After ler à cheval?-Oh, c'est juste, c'est bien cela; les Ing-kie-li, dit-on, n'osent jamais quitter la mer; aussitôt qu'ils montent à terre, ils tremblent et meurent comme les poissons qu'on met hors de l'eau. On parla beaucoup des mœurs et du caractère des diables marins, et d'après tout ce qui en fut dit, il demeura demontré que nous n'étions pas du tout de la même race.

describing an assembly in a college of Lamas, where the explanations given by the priests or professors on certain points of their religion proved as vague and incomprehensible as the thing to be explained, he adds, "On est, du reste, convaincu que la sublimité d'une doctrine est en raison directe de son obscurité et de son impénétrabilité.” [Our inn-keeper, a full-blooded Chinese, in order Let us only suppose M. Huc expounding to those * Père Gerbillon informs us, that beyond the Yellow Lamas the dogma of Transubstantiation, and addRiver, to its western extremity, (or for full one halfing, in testimony of its truth, that St. Ignatius of its total length,) the wall is chiefly a mound of earth or gravel, about fifteen feet in height, with only occasional towers of brick. Marco Polo's silence concerning it may therefore be accounted for on the supposition that, having seen only this imperfect portion, he did not deem it an object of sufficient curiosity to deserve particu'ar notice, without the necessity of imagining that he entered China to the south of the great barrier.-The Chinese, vol. i.

Loyola, with eyesight sharpened by faith, declared he actually saw the farinaceous substance changing itself into flesh. "Les hommes," observes our author in another place, "sont partout les mêmes!"

the devotees and recluses of Buddhism, are similar The jokes in which M. Huc indulges, against to what have been repeated a thousand times with reference to those of Romanism :—

The monasteries of the Lamas, resembling as they do in so many respects those of the Romanists, differ from them on some few points. The members are all subject to the same rule and the same discipline; but they do not seem to live to the same extent in community; and exclusive rights of In its modern traits, as well as in its ancient, property prevail among them. Our missionaries Lamanism maintains its resemblance to Romanism. passed some months in these establishments. Besides Prodigies and miracles of constant occurrence come his holiness, the Supreme Lama at Lhassa, there are to the aid of the priesthood, and maintain their inGrand Lamas, who derive their investiture from him, fluence over the stupid multitude. Some of the and descend from past ages in uninterrupted succes-instances adduced are palpable cases of ingenious sion. With reference to one of these, it is ob-jugglery; but M. Huc, with characteristic facility, believes in the miracle, while he attributes it to the agency of the devil :

If the new system cannot be made to supersede | whom, therefore, we may compare to the Carthe old, it may at least be grafted upon it, as dinals. The present Dalé-Lama is only nine years experience has already proved at our own colony of age, and his three predecessors had none of them of Ceylon; for Romanism has sometimes been reached their majority; a circumstance which satisfied with a part, where the whole was unat- seems to indicate foul play, and which was, in fact, tainable. In a recent work by Sir Emerson Ten-expressly attributed to treachery on the part of the nent, he observes of the early converts in that administration of Thibet, vested chiefly in the island to the Romish Church, "There is no reason hands of a functionary styled Nomekhan, during to doubt that, along with the profession of the new the Grand Lama's minority. faith, the majority of them, like the Singalese of the present day, cherished, with still closer attachment, the superstitions of Buddhism;" and he attributes the ease of their external conversion to "the attractions of a religion which, in point of pomp and magnificence, surpassed, without materially differing from, the pageantry and processions with which they were accustomed to celebrate the festivals of their own national worship." We may, however, charitably and reasonably suppose that the present emissaries of Rome would stop short of the complaisant conformity of their Jesuit predecessors, who, according to the Abbé Dubois, "conducted the images of the Virgin and Saviour on triumphal cars, imitated from the orgies of Jaggernath, and introduced the dancers of the Brahminical rites into the ceremonial of the church.

A party at Lhassa opposed to this Nomekhan applied secretly, in the year 1844, for the interference of the Emperor of China, who is sufficiently ready to extend his influence, on all occasions, in Thibet and elsewhere. The person selected to proceed as ambassador to Thibet, and overturn the ill-acquired power of the Nomekhan was Ke-shen, who only about four years before had been ruined by the result of his negotiations at Canton; but whose energy and talents appear still to have been appreciated by the emperor's government, and whose failure might possibly have met with palliation and excuse in the still worse failures of his successors in the south. On reaching Lhassa, Ke-shen took his measures in concert with those opposed to the Nomekhan. That high functionary was arrested; when, to avoid torture, he at length confessed to the guilt of having taken three lives from the Grand Lama, or, in other words, having caused his transmigration three times by violence. To this confession the seals of Ke-shen and the other parties were affixed, and it was transmitted by a special courier to Peking.

After eighteen months of mingled residence and journeyings through the immense tract which intervenes between the neighborhood of Peking and Lhassa, MM. Huc and Gabet reached the capital of Thibet in a very weary and exhausted state. The snowy range of mountains which formed the fatter portion of their route was passed with a caravan, which is periodically collected as a protection frightfully agitated; at the door of the palace of Three months afterwards the capital of Thibet was against robbers; and the miseries and privations Nomekhan, and in the principal streets of the city, which they endured had well-nigh proved fatal to was placarded an imperial edict, in three languages, M. Gabet, though both travellers were in the prime on yellow paper, and with borders representing winged of life-one thirty-two, and the other only thirty- dragons. After lofty reflections upon the duties of seven. Scarcely settled in the lodging where they kings, and of sovereigns great or small ;-after had installed themselves, when troubles not less exhortations to potentates, monarchs, princes, magisharassing, though of another kind, were to be trates, and the people of the four seas to walk in the encountered. 66 Après les peines physiques, c'était paths of justice and virtue, under pain of incurring le tour des souffrances morales." As far as rested the wrath of Heaven, and the anger of the great Khan with the native government of the country, they-the emperor recalled the crimes of Nomekhan, and might long have remained unmolested to exercise their zeal at the head-quarters of Buddhism; but obstacles arose in a direction which they were hardly prepared to anticipate. The minister of the Emperor of China resides at the Court of the Supreme Lama, something like the Austrian ambassador at Rome, but with a vastly greater and more undivided influence. His spies were the first to detect the intruders; and he succeeded, at length, notwithstanding the favor and kindness shown to them by the temporal Regent of Thibet, in effecting their expulsion from the country. The whole narrative is extremely curious, and, in fact, gives a better insight into the real relations existing between Peking and Lhassa than any other source within our reach.

condemned him to perpetual banishment to the shores of Sakhalien-oula, at the extremity of Manchouria.At the end, was the usual form-tremble and obey.

Such an unusual sight as this Imperial Edict on the gates of their governor excited a general insurrection among the Thibetians of Lhassa. At half a league's distance is a College of Lamas, composed of some thousands. These armed themselves at random, and came down like an avalanche, denouncing death to Ke-shen and the Chinese. They carried by assault the residence of the ambassador, who, however, was not to be found. They next attacked those who had acted with him, and sacrificed more than one to their fury. They released the condemned Nomekhan, who, however, had not the spirit to avail himself of the occasion. had," says M. Huc, "the cowardly energy of an assassin, and not the boldness of a conspirator."

"He

In addition to the numerous and striking analogies which have been traced between the rites of Lamanism and the Roman worship, M. Huc The next morning, the Lamas were again agiobserves that "Rome and Lhassa, the Pope and tated like a hive of bees, and again swarmed down the Supreme Lama, might also furnish points of upon Lhassa. But Ke-shen had profited by the resemblance full of interest." The Thibetian gov-interval, and his measures were taken. A formiernment is altogether ecclesiastical. The Talé or dable array of Chinese and Thibetian troops barred Dalé-Lama is its political and religious head. their passage; and the Lamas, whose trade was When he dies, or, as the Buddhists say, trans- not fighting, betook themselves to their cells and migrates, his indestructible personification is con- their books, and were glad to avoid the consetinued in a child, chosen by the great Lamas, dis-quences of their temerity in an immediate resumptinguished as Houtouktou, whose sacerdotal rank is tion of their clerical character. In a few days, the inferior only to that of the Grand Lama, and Nomekhan, who had thrown away his only chance,

The good-natured functionary assured the missionaries that he had sent for them merely in consequence of the contradictory reports in circulation, and without the least wish to molest them. After

was on his way "comme un mouton" to Tartary | low."-" Do the rest of you," said he, turning to -while Ke-shen, elated with his triumph, showed those standing round him, "understand this lana disposition to extend the penalties to his reputed guage?" They bowed all together, and said they did accomplices in guilt. The ministers of the local not understand it. You see, nobody here undergovernment, however, thought the Chinese influ- stands your language; translate your words into that ence had done enough, and the ambassador had of Thibet."-"We said that in the physiognomy of the prudence to forbear. The new Nomekhan the chief kalon there is much goodness."-"Ah, yes; was selected from the Lamas of the greatest emi- you find me very good? Nevertheless, I am very wicked. Am I not very wicked?" he asked his peonence in the country; but as the choice fell on a ple. They smiled, and did not speak. "You are youth of only eighteen, a regent was appointed in right," continued the regent; "I am good, for goodthe person of the chief kalon, or minister. This ness is the duty of a kalon. I ought to be good to individual soon showed that his first care was to my own people, and also to foreigners." provide barriers against the ambition and encroachments of the Chinese ambassador, who had so boldly taken advantage of the weakness of the Thibetian government, to usurp its powers, and extend the pretensions of his master, the emperor. Things were in this state on the arrival of our two missionaries, who, after some weeks of unmolested residence, began to flatter themselves that they might pass unobserved. They were one day seated at their lodging in conversation with a Lama well versed in Buddhistic learning, when a well-dressed Chinese suddenly made his appearance, and expressed a strong desire to inspect any merchandise they might have to dispose of. They in vain declared they were not merchants; he was not satisfied, and in the midst of the discussion arrived a second Chinese, and then a third; after which, the number of visitors was soon swelled to five, by the appearance of two Lamas in rich silk scarfs. They all joined in a multitude of questions, addressed to MM. Gabet and Huc, and their looks were directed on all sides, in a minute examination of the contents of the dwelling. They at length took their leave, promising to return, and left our missionaries in an uncomfortable state, justly thinking that the pretended chance visit looked like a concerted measure, and that their new friends had very much the appearance of either spies or swindlers.

young

When dinner was over, two out of the late five reappeared, and at once announced that the regent desired to see the missionaries ;" and that man," said they, pointing to their faithful Tartar attendant, Samdadchiemba, who eyed them with no very friendly looks-" he must come too." The authorities must be obeyed, and they set out together towards the palace of the regent. On their arrival, they were conducted through a court and passages, crowded with Thibetians and Chinese, to a large room, at the end of which was seated the regent, with his legs crossed upon a thick cushion covered with a tiger's skin. He was a man of about fifty, stout, and remarkably fair, with a most intelligent and benevolent countenance. The strangers were invited to seat themselves on a bench covered with red carpet to their right.

As he took his

having found, to his surprise, that they could ex-
press themselves in the written characters of China,
Tartary, and Thibet, and having satisfied himself
as to the nature of their pursuits, he informed them
that the Chinese resident was himself going to
question them. He advised that they should
frankly state their history, and added, that they
might depend upon his protection, for it was him-
self who governed the country.
departure, the noise of the gong announced the
approach of Ke-shen. The experience of our
travellers made them anticipate a less agreeable
interview in this quarter; but they screwed their
courage up to the sticking place, determined that
as Christians, as missionaries, and as Frenchmen,
they would not kneel to anybody; and they bade
their squire and neophyte, Samdadchiemba, confess
his faith, if the occasion should require. The
portrait of the celebrated mandarin must be given
at full length.

Ke-shen, although sixty years of age, seemed to us
full of strength and vigor. His face is undoubtedly
the noblest, most gracious, and most intellectual, that
we had ever seen among the Chinese. As soon as we
had taken off our hat to him, making a bow to him in
our best possible fashion, "That's right," said he,
"follow your own customs. I have heard that you
speak the language of Pekin correctly. I wish to
converse with you for a moment."-"We make many
mistakes in speaking, but your wonderful intelligence
will be able to make up for the obscurity of our
words."-"Why, this is pure Pekin indeed! You
French have a great facility for all sciences. You are
French, are you not?"-"Yes, we are French.".
"Oh! I know the French; formerly there were many
of them at Pekin. I saw some of them."-" You
should have known some of them also at Canton,
when you were imperial commissioner." This souve
nir made our judge knit his brow; he drew out of his
repository a large pinch of snuff,* and snuffed it up in
very bad humor. "Yes, it's true. I have seen
many Europeans at Canton. You are of the religion
of the Lord of heaven, are you not?"-"Certainly;
"I know it,
we are even preachers of that religion.”.
I know it. No doubt you have come here to preach
that religion?"—" For that very purpose.”—“ Have
you already gone over many countries?"-"We have
gone through all China, all Tartary, and now you see
us in the capital of Thibet."-" With whom did you
"We do not an-
lodge when you were in China?”.
"But if I command
swer questions of that nature."-
you?"-"We could not obey." (Here the displeased:

As soon as we were seated, the regent considered us a long time in silence, and with minute attention. He leaned his head sometimes to the right and some times to the left, and examined us in a manner half mocking and half good-natured. This sort of pantomime seemed to us at last so droll, that we could not help laughing. “Well," said we in French, in a low tone, "this gentleman seems a pretty good fellow; our business will go well."-"Ah!" said the regent, with a voice full of affability," what language do you speak? I did not understand what you said."—"We speak the language of our country."-"We shall see. Repeat aloud what you just said in a low voice.". "We said, This gentleman seems a pretty good fel-argent."

The Chinese generally take snuff out of a small bottle, but Ke-shen probably required larger supplies, and had a silver box or vessel at his side-" vase en

judge struck his fist hard on the table.) "You know," | useless to protest that nothing but the safety of our

we said to him, "that Christians are not afraid; why,
then, try to intimidate us?"-"Where did you learn
Chinese?""In China."-"In what part?"-"A
little everywhere."—" And the Tartar language, do
you know that?
Where did you learn it?"-" In
Mongolia, the land of herbs."

traders was in view; that the commercial treaty was altogether futile without the safe navigation of the seas by our merchant vessels; and it became necessary at once to cut the matter short by saying that the commanders of H. M. ships must obey any orders they received from their government in the prosecution of their lawful business.

Maps of the country our missionaries had, but they were not autograph, nor even manuscript. A grand scrutiny took place before Ke-shen.

"We are fortunate," said the travellers to the Chinese minister, "to find you here. In your absence it might have been impossible to convince the authorities of Thibet that we did not construct these maps ourselves; but to a person of your information it is easy to perceive that these maps are not our work." Ke-shen appeared greatly flattered by the these are printed maps. Look," he added to the compliment. "It is evident at once," said he, "that regent, "the maps, instead of being made by these persons, were printed in the country of France. You could not perceive that; but I have been long accustomed to distinguish the various objects which come from the West."

The firm bearing of MM. Huc and Gabet was properly respected by Ke-shen, who, however, did not treat with the same ceremony their Tartar attendant, Samdadchiemba, on finding he was a subject of China. He ordered him peremptorily to kneel, and in that attitude obtained from him his history, which might have gone far to compromise the unfortunate squire, but for his connection with the two missionaries. Ke-shen's character appears to considerable advantage throughout this narrative.to one so well acquainted with European mattersEncroaching and overbearing towards the Thibetian government, according to his supposed duty to his sovereign, his personal demeanor to the two travellers proved his due appreciation of the European character, no doubt the result of his experience at Canton. The lateness of the hour put an end to the audience, and our missionaries had an immediate interview, followed by a supper, with their kind friend, the regent, whose solicitude may fairly be attributed as much to his jealousy of the Chinese resident, as his sympathy for the strangers. At this interview appeared as interpreter, on account of his knowledge of the Chinese language, (the medium most familiar to the missionaries,) a cerCashmere, resident at Lhassa. This little incident shows our increased vicinity to the Chinese empire, since Gholab Singh, ruler of Cashmere, became our tributary, and bound himself in the treaty with Lord Hardinge, to transmit annually a dozen fine shawls, and a certain number of shawl goats, in acknowledgment of British supremacy.

tain Mahomedan chief of the Mussulmans of

*

The greatest cause of anxiety to the regent, and the circumstance most likely to compromise the missionaries, proved to be the supposed possession of maps of the country, constructed by themselves. It would seem, according to our author, that this fear originated since the visit of our countryman Moorcroft, who, according to the Thibetians, introduced himself at Lhassa as a native of Cashmere. They stated that, after a residence of some years, he took his departure, but was murdered on his way to Ladak. Among his effects were a number of maps and designs, which he had executed during his stay in this country; and hence the fear of mapmakers. The truth, however, is that this fear has been of long standing, in China at least, where the common notion of an Englishman is that of a bipes implumis who goes about making maps of the country, with an express view to future conquest. Keying, the most liberal Chinese we have ever had to deal with, was in a perpetual fidget about the coast survey, carried on, since the peace, by that able officer Captain Collinson, between Hong-Kong and Shanghae, and plagued H. M. plenipotentiary incessantly on the subject.

It was

The time and place of Moorcroft's death near Balkh, as related by Professor Wilson, have been confirmed through repeated notices gathered by Barnes and others during our occupation of Cabul and the adjacent countries, and there is no doubt of the fact. Moorcroft's residence for twelve years, from 1926 to 1838, at Lhassa, without being heard of, directly or indirectly, by any European, whether in India, Nepaul, China, or Russia, is incredible on the face of it.

Solvuntur risu tabulæ.-This incident was of more use to the missionaries, and relieved them more completely from the cloud which had hung over them, than anything else that could have ochimself was effectually removed, and from being curred. The only fear and anxiety of the regent virtually prisoners, and their baggage under seal, they returned in a sort of ovation to their lodging. It did not seem unreasonable for them, under all the circumstances, to hope that they might remain unmolested in the country. This appeared still more probable after their friend, the regent, had allowed them to take up their quarters in a house belonging to the government, where they estabboth Thibetians and Chinese, some of whom manilished a chapel, and where they were visited by fested no disinclination towards the Romish worship. Enough has been shown to prove that, in external rites, there is not a great deal of difference, and there are, besides, certain circumstances which give the Papal emissaries great practical advanWhatever tages over Protestant missionaries. may be the evils or scandals attending celibacy in the Romish Church, (and Dr. Dens' miscalled al,) it has been very useful to them in the case of Theology" proves its dangers in the confessionforeign missions, and in the exploration of untried regions or new fields of action. The very undertaking we are considering could never have been accomplished by Protestant clergymen encumbered When a missionary is nominated from England, with the "impedimenta" of wives and families. the prospect of a provision, supposing him to be single, generally induces him to marry, and he fixes himself down, say at one of the five ports of China, for perhaps his life, with the very moderate prospect of converting the empire from a place corresponding to one of our seaports. If he dies prematurely, which is often the case, the funds which sent him out become charged with the maintenance of those whom he leaves behind, and we need only look over the accounts of the Propagation Society to see that a very considerable amount of their funds (most justly and unavoidably we admit) are swallowed up annually in this way.

66

The interval of prosperity now enjoyed by our travellers, but destined to be too soon interrupted,