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would be dangerous as the Ch'iangs are against us. If the envoy should go farther north, he would be held by the Huns. It should be a shorter route from Shu, a route moreover which would not be beset with robbers. Your Majesty has now learnt about Tayuan, Tahsia and Anhsi, which are all big countries rich in precious things; the people lead a settled life and have quite similar employments as Chinese people, they are weak in arms but treasure Chinese goods. Your Majesty has also learnt about the Greater Yuehchih, Kangchu and others, coun- tries to their north, which are strong in arms but can be won over with gifts and profits. If we should succeed in bringing all those countries under our tutelage through fair dealing, then our territory would be extended ten thousand li, our tongue would translated nine times, our culture would prevail over various conventions, and Your Majesty's authority and prestige would prevail throughout the four seas." The Emperor willingly approved of what Chang Ch'ien had said and orderd him to organize four envoys to issue at the same time from Chienwei in Shu through four different routes, namely, through Mang, through Shan through Hsi, and through Chiungpei. The four envoys each went bet- ween one and two thousand li, and were blocked in the north at Ti and Tso and in the south at Sui and Kunming. The Kunming people had no chieftains and were skilled in raiding. They repea- tedly waylaid and killed Chinese envoys, preventing the opening of the route. But it was learnt that more than a thousand li to its west there was a country called Tienviet where the people rode elephants, and that occasionally smugglers from Shu reached it. Thus through seeking access to Tahsia, China first came into contact with Tien. Formerly China had tried to contact the southwes- tern tribes but had ceased to do so after spending much expen- ses without opening the way. The efforts were resumed since Chang Ch'ien asserted that through them China could come into contact with Tahsia. As a captain, Chang Ch'ien followed the Great General (Wei Ch'ing) in the campaign against Hsiungnu. He knew where there were oases among the desert, thus the troops were able to stay out of distress. He was therefore conferred the title of the -6-