[CHAPTER XCVIII.]
Interview with the Acting Prime Minister.
In His Excellency Bheem Shamsher I found a perfect gentleman, easy of approach, but nevertheless of commanding presence.
“How are you impressed with our country?” said he.
“I am filled with a feeling of extreme pleasure,” I replied.
“How can that be?”
“Because not only your natural scenery, trees and plants, but even your people look very much like those of my own country, and I cannot help feeling quite at home here—a feeling which makes me forget the difficulties of travel I have come through.”
His Excellency smiled a little. “That may be, because we belong to the same race; but are you quite sure about our flora?”
“Why, yes, Your Excellency, not only your mountains and waters look like ours, but you have pines, cedars, oaks, willows, keyaki (Planeta japonica), cherries, peaches, pears, oranges, azaleas, elms, among trees, and field products, such as rice, wheat, beans, millet, buck-wheat and corn are as common with you as they are in Japan. I also notice an equal similarity between the flowers and birds of the countries. Above all I am profoundly impressed by the bravery of your people and their kindness toward strangers.”
Quite pleased at what I said, His Excellency now changed the course of conversation: