Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/192

180 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. Friar Anselm replied that the Pope did not know either the Khan or Baidjou — that he had never heard their names: that he had merely heard that a nation called Tartars had issued from the remote East, had subjugated many countries, and destroyed an innumerable multitude of men; that if the Pope had known the name of the Khan, or of his lieutenant, he would not have failed to write it in the letters with which he had commissioned them; that the pontiff, afflicted at all the carnage that had taken place, and especially at the murder of so many Christians, had ordered them to repair promptly to the first Tartar camp that they could find, and in his name entreat the chief of that army, and all those who obeyed him, to abstain henceforth from slaughtering men, and particularly Christians; and to expiate, by penance, the atrocious crimes they had committed.

This was the tenour of the letters with which the Pope had charged them.

Such language as this, to ferocious conquerors accustomed to see men crawling on the earth at their feet, could not but produce an astounding effect; and the officers and interpreters withdrew to report to Baidjou these unaccountable words.

In a few moments they returned to ask whether the Envoys brought any presents from the Pope.

"We bring nothing," said Friar Anselm;" the Pope is not in the habit of sending presents; on the contrary, he receives offerings, both from Christians and infidels." The astonishment of the Tartars was at its height when they found that, in defiance of the invariable practice of ambassadors in Asia, these audacious men had brought nothing. "What!" said they, "will