books and maps were procured for its persevering members. They made commendable progress, though often interrupted by fêtes and festivals and play-days. One of them one day asked me with seriousness what could be done to make the king young. On the spur of the moment I replied, "Oh, have him advance in knowledge and goodness; that will keep him young." The answer, so unpremeditated, pleased the young wife. I think she whispered it in the ear of the king, to his great satisfaction and delight, for he had a very homely as well as old face.
The king was called Chon Chewitt ("lord of life"), and woe betide the one who would dare to cross his will! One day I was conversing with these young wives, when one of them whispered, "Hush! hush!" I inquired the reason, and she significantly pointed toward the king's quarters and drew her hand across her neck, as much as to say, "To converse on such a subject might displease His Majesty, and he could take off our heads." I was credibly informed that he ordered one of his wives to be put in chains and in prison for forgetting to wear a certain ring which he had ordered to be worn on a certain day. One of our pupils, a sweet-faced young girl, stole the king's spectacles, and sold them—to increase her spending-money, I suppose. I asked to be led to her quarters, thinking I might
