File:Ruins of desert Cathay - personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China (1912) (14779999141).jpg

Identifier: ruinsofdesertcat01stei (find matches)
Title: Ruins of desert Cathay : personal narrative of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Stein, Aurel, Sir, 1862-1943 Archaeological Survey of India
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Macmillan
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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throughout the country. Yet its performance was done with such ease and grace as befitted a descendant of that old Khotan race, the courtly politeness of which had already struck the earliest Chinese observers. But Ch'ê Ta-jên, too, knew how to rise to the occasion. The gesture with which heheld out his hand to his protégé in order to raise him, was full of dignity and paternal kindness. Any dignitary of the Church, whether Western or Eastern, might have studied the pose with advantage. That the Amban with his genial bonhomie knew all the same how to keep his Begs in their place was curiously illustrated by a little incident while I took my photographs.It was easy to get the group showing him and his Chinese staff. But when he was to be photographed with all his

70. amban's guests feasting on terrace leading to 'my' pavilion in nar-bagh.
Text Appearing After Image:
71. CH'Ê TA-JÊN, AMBAN OF KHOTAN, WITH LOCAL BEGS, On extreme right Islam Beg, Beg of Kayash.

CH.xviii ARRIVAL OF TREASURE-SEEKERS 219

crowd of Begs (Fig. 71), the size of a quarter-plate naturally proved far too small. So I suggested closer grouping by making some at least of the local dignitaries sit on the bare ground by the side of the Ambans chair while the rest were to stand behind. The alacrity, good-natured yet decided, with which the Amban shrank from the idea of allowing any of his native myrmidons to sit in his presence,was quite amusing. I have little doubt, the Begs would have known better than to fall in with such a 'Firang' notion ! It was getting late in the afternoon when the longed-for bowls of rice, marking the close of the feast, appeared on the table, and I felt grateful for the sensible rule of Chinese etiquette which makes the chief guest take his leave as soon as the table is cleared. After such an entertainment a little ride might well be indulged in, and the city Bazarsa

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