These feasters come to be divided into two classes—the individuals who sent or in person brought some gifts and others who turned up empty handed, invited by the general.
Report has it that 11 days were consumed in entertaining; each day 10 tables were spread twice or 20 tables altogether; at a cost of Tls. 8 or Tls. 9 of silver for each official one, while the food for the common crowd only amounted to about Ts. 5 per table.
_Two or three days had to be given up in the feasting programme to appeas™ the appetites of the official class.
The guests sat down in what-must have been a gorgeous tent for the price is supposed to be Tls. 3,000 or Ts. 4,000, the size large enough to accommodate three "ving" or about 600 persons, The value of the presents from the high-ups and intendant oflicials, the latter to curry favour, according to a low estimate amounted to Tls. 10,000 while a high reckoning makes it 30,000 or 40,000. _A number of first class steeds rigged up with silver bedecked saddles were included in the Tibetan gift quota. En route to Sining, on the return trip via Tibetan district these tribes vied with each other to do honour to Ma Chi-hu. Why? It was not a spontaneous, willing respect that was shown; rather such actions proceeded from hearts dilled with fear on account of the severe contigatiog previously administer-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.