ezers; seeing which, the Lama objected
to the experiment, alleging that we were going to cause the
death of a living being. "Never fear," we said, "we have only
got hold of him by his skin; and besides, he seems sufficiently
sturdy to get over the trial." The Regent, whose creed, as we
before said, was more spiritualized than that of the vulgar,
told the Lama to hold his tongue, and let us alone. We
therefore proceeded with the experiment, and fixed into the
object-glass the little animal, who was struggling in our
tweezers. We then requested the Regent to apply his eye to the
glass at the top of the machine. "Tsong-Kaba!" said he; "the
louse is as big as a rat."... Having viewed it for an instant,
he hid his face in his hands, saying, that it was a horrible
sight. He tried to prevent the others from looking, but his
expostulations were unavailing. Every body in turn bent over
the microscope, and started back with cries of horror. The
Secretary-Lama perceiving that his little animal scarcely
moved, put in a word in its behalf. We raised the tweezers and
restored the louse to its owner. Alas! the unfortunate victim
was lifeless. The Regent said, laughingly to his secretary, "I
fear your louse is unwell; go and see if you can physic him, or
he'll never recover."

All this pleasantness and good fellowship was not to last long, and
little more than a month elapsed before the blow came. The suspicions of
Ki-Chan had been lulled--not dispelled. It was contrary to the
invariable policy of the Chinese to brook the presence of strangers, and
especially of preachers of Christianity, at Lha-Ssa; and the very favor
shown them by the native government was an additional motive for
desiring their expulsion. One day, the two Frenchmen were summoned to
the presence of Ki-Chan, who, with the usual forms of Chinese
politeness, informed them that Thibet was too poor and miserable a
country to suit them, and that they had best think of returning to
France. In vain did they, after thanking him for his friendly interest,
assure him with firmness, that, notwithstanding his advice, they
intended to remain; in vain did the poor Regent promise his support, and
affirm that he it was "who governed the country;" there was no combating
the all-powerful influence of the Chinese ambassador. At last, finding
all opposition fruitless, they determined