Accordingly I offered my two coolies three taels each (_9s._), instead of the hong price of _7s.
9d._, and loads of fifty catties instead of seventy catties.

I offered to refund them 100 cash each (_2-1/2d._) a day for every day that they had been delayed in Yunnan, and, in addition, I promised them a reward of five mace each (_1s.

6d._) if they would take me to Tali in nine days, instead of thirteen, the first evening not to count.

To Laohwan, who had no load to carry, but had to attend to me and the pony and pay away the cash, I made a similar offer.

These terms, involving me in an outlay of _36s._ for hiring three men to go with me on foot 915 li, and return empty-handed, were considered liberal, and were agreed to at once.
The afternoon, then, of the 19th April saw us again _en route_, bound to the west to Talifu, the most famous city in western China, the headquarters of the Mohammedan "Sultan" during the great rebellion of 1857-1873.
By the courtesy of the Mandarin Li, two men were detailed to "sung" me--to accompany me, that is--and take the responsibility for my safe delivery at the next hsien.