else and devote myself entirely to getting my boats out of the little river by which I had entered the marsh, and which was now almost quite dried up.  I succeeded in doing so after some time, by means of ditches which I cut from the marsh, but this took me more than a month and considerable labour, as I was about two leagues from the great river.  To complete my misfortunes, my troop was attacked by sickness, which raged with a violence such as I had scarcely ever seen.  It cost me nine soldiers, of whom three were Europeans.  The latter were luckily replaced some days after by the same number who joined me.[143] Poor M. Brayer and M. Gourlade had been during almost the whole campaign in the most pitiable condition, especially the former, who I thought a thousand times must have died.  As for me, the powders d’Aillot preserved me from the pestilential air, and cured me from the effects of a fall in my bajarow,[144] caused by the clumsiness of my boatmen.  I narrowly escaped breaking my ribs and back.

“Before quitting Fort Bourgogne I must tell thee, my dear wife, that I often played there a very grand role.  I was called the ‘Fringuey Raja,’ or ‘King of the Christians.’  I was often chosen as arbiter amongst the little princes in my neighbourhood, who sent me ambassadors.  My reputation spread so wide, and the respect that I gained was so great, that the King of Tibet did not disdain to honour me with an embassy of nearly eight hundred persons, whom I entertained for nine whole days, and whose chiefs I dismissed with presents suitable to their rank, their king, our nation, and the idea which I wished to leave behind me in this country of the European name.  The presents which were made me consisted of five horses, some bags of scent, three or four pieces of china, pieces of gilt paper, and a sabre like those used by the Bhutiyas, or people of Tibet, who are men as strong and robust as those of Bengal are feeble.  Though pagans like the latter, they eat all kinds of things, and live almost like the Tartars, from whom they are descended.  They have no beards, and are clothed in a fashion which is good enough, but which looks singular.  They are very dirty.  The complexion of those whom I saw was very dark, but I know it is not the same in the interior of the country and in the mountains, where all are as fair as the Chinese, who are said to be their neighbours.  I took some trouble to form an alliance and to make a party amongst them.  They appeared very willing, but I soon had occasion to convince myself that not only were they not fitting persons for my designs, but also that they were playing with me.  It is not that they do not make raids upon the lower country, but they make these only in the cold weather, always withdrawing at the commencement of the hot, without trying to make any permanent conquests.

“There, then, my reign is finished, or nearly so, for the good news that I continued