CHAPTER VI

French aspirations in Tonkin--Margary receives his instructions--Work already done on the Yang-tse--Margary is insulted at Paï-Chou--He awaits instructions in vain at Lo-Shan--The Tung-Ting lake--A Chinese caravanserai--The explorer leaves the river to proceed by land--He meets a starving missionary--Kwei-Chou and the French bishop there--A terrible road--Arrival at the capital of Yunnan--Armed escort from Bhâmo--Meeting between Margary and Colonel Browne--Threatening attitude of natives--Margary crosses the frontier alone--Colonel Browne's camp surrounded--Murder of Margary outside Manwyne--Importance of Yunnan and Szechuan to Europeans 118