The Fan-Qui in China, in 1836-7

Preface

. Many persons may be puzzled to understand the meaning of the word Fan-qui. Those who have been to China wid comprehend it wed enough, as they must often have heard it ap plied to themselves. It literady signifies "barbarian wanderer" or " outlandish demon ;" but having been so long accustomed to the epithet, and hearing it so often pronounced, we are willing to hope that it is now generally used without intention to insult, and may be fairly translated " Foreigner." This term of reproach, therefore, if such it still be, expresses in China, not only the

PREFACE.

. VI English, but all Europeans, Americans, Parsees, Arabs, Malays, and the inhabitants of every other quarter of the globe, excepting their own Celestial Empire. The object of this work is to illustrate, in an easy and popular manner, the intercourse at present subsisting between these said Fan-quis and the children of Han. — To take the reader through the Bocca Tigris up to the Provincial City, and to show him, in a more minute and descriptive manner than has yet been done, how matters ready stand between them, the manner of life of both, how the trade is at present conducted, and the prospects which exist of a more friendly alliance. There are many circumstances w*hich combine to render this subject highly interesting to the British. To no part of the world, indeed, is there a more lively interest directed at the present moment than to China. The expiration of the Charter of the East India Company — the working of the new system of Free Trade

PREFACE.

. VII — the commissions of Lord Napier and Captain Elliot — the increase of the smuggling transac tions and importation of opium, with the recent exertions of the native government for their suppression — the late severe edicts against Christianity — and the probable success of the attempts to introduce it through the medium of surgeon-missionaries : each of these points is sufficient to draw the attention of the public to whatever promises to increase the stock of information. The writer considers that he had singular opportunities for investigation, and cannot reproach himself with their neglect. As a medical man, he had admittance into the hospitals, and frequently into the most private recesses of the natives. Aware of these advantages, he was careful to take a note on the spot of every peculiarity which came within his ob servation ; whde some little skill as a draughts man contributed to fix the scenes in his memory. Acknowledgments are due to those gentle-

PREFACE.

. men, whose works have been consulted on abstruse or disputed questions, and much obligation is felt to his friend, Captain Eyles, for his uniform kindness and attention to the writer during his residence in China. London, April, 1838. CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

Chapter I

China trade restricted to Canton — British free-traders — Direct voyage — Double voyage — Straits' produce — Time of proceeding to China — Monsoons — China sea — Typhoons — Destruction of native j unks — Appearance of the ocean — Pulo Sapata — Dragon-flies — The Ladrones — Outside pilots — Dress of fishermen — Departure for Macao — Boatmen — Olo man — Description of fast-boat — Night among the Islands — Ye-moon, Yat-moon — Passage between them — Ghos-paper, crackers, &c. — Ghos-pidgeon — Chinese bed — Pillow — Ghos-house — Ghos-stick — Ghos-paper — Altercation among the fishermen — The larger Chee-chow — Ramble on shore — Departure and arrival at the port . . 1

Chapter II

Macao — Mandarins — Egg-boats — Portuguese settlement — Government of the place — Residence of European ladies — Marquick's hotel — Evening promenades — Chinese philosopher — -Servants and waiters — Barbarous language — Cave of Camoens — Mr. Beale's gardens — Mr. Chinnery — Communication between Macao and Canton — Broadway river — Departure — Port custom — Approaching thunderstorm — Squall — Management of Chinese sailors — Island of Laf-samee — Inside pilot — Departure of outside pilot X CONTENTS.

Chapter III

Macao roads — Contraband trade — Consumption of opium — Lintin — Cum-sing-moon — Opium trade — Clippers — Smug-boats or centipedes — Receiving vessels — Chinese courage — Peak and Island of Lintin — Estuary — Fishing-stakes — Inside pilot — Bocca Tigris — Annahoy — Anson's Bay — Chuen-pee — The chop — Battle of the Bogue — Forts and batteries — Native pirates — Jealous precaution of the government against Portuguese — Native chronicles — Tiger Island and fort — River scenery — Paddy-grounds — Duck-boats — Catching shrimps — Second-bar Pagoda — Stone quarries — Bar-boats — Whampoa . .... 47

Chapter IV

Whampoa village and island — First-bar — View of the fleet in Whampoa Reach — Importance of the trade— Wash-boats — Chinese girls — Departure of inside pilot — Collection of small stores — Port customs — Security system — Compradores — Olo Acow — San-pan-Sam — Modes of cheating in former times — Hoppo-Jack — Preventive service — Polite dialogue — Supply of meat — Preparations for unloading — The linguist — The clerks' boats — The pursers — Their apparatus — The chops or cargo-boats — Unloading . . . 75

Chapter V

Great variety of craft on the river— Numbers of people who live on the water— Maternal precaution— General description of boats— The eye on the bows — Large junks— The Loong-froong— Merchant-junk— Entering CONTENTS. XI Junk river — Men-of-war — Cannon — Compass — Man darin-boat — Occupation — Smug-boats — Smugglers — Way of proceeding — The river Tigris — Intricate channels — Chase and capture ofa smuggler . . 103

Chapter VI

The great plain of Quang-see — The great rivers — Narrow limits for foreigners — Danger of being bambooed — Danes and French Islands — Walk on Danes Island — Sam-shu wigwam — Native tombs — -Second-bar pagoda — Whampoa Reach — The double-decker — Vessel unloading — Rice-ship — Chinese and foreign smallcraft — Quickness of the natives — American vessels — Opposite bank of river — Green paddy-fields — Range ofmountains — The pauper's tombstone — Entrance of Junk river — The seaman's burial-ground — Country pagodas — The quoit-ground — Causeway — Ghos-house and theatre — Rice agriculture — Duck-boats — Management of the birds 133

Chapter VII

Chinese boats — Clerks-boats — External ornament — Internal arrangement — Mosquitoes and flies — Musical instruments — Tea-drinking — Smoking-pipes — Opium-smoking — Lanterns — The swan-pan — Way of writing — Sealing the chop — The written language — Original formation ofthe characters — Their combination — Number of words — The keys — Difficulty of the language — Oral tongue — Accents — Writing-paper — India-paper — Cargo-boats — The barber's san-pan, razor, &c. — Deafness of many Chinese — Sam-shu smuggling — Eel- CONTENTS. boats— Management of small boats— The paddle — Oars and sculls — Mat-sails — Hoppo-boat . • 159 159

Chapter VIII

Temperature— South-west monsoon — Unhealthiness of Whampoa — Improvidence of common sailors — Breaking up of monsoon — Heavy dews — Spasmodic cholera — Cause of intense cold in China — North-east monsoon — Paddy-lands — Maish miasm — Mixture of salt and fresh water— Effects of want of exercise — Sam-shu, its manufacture and poisonous nature — Recklessness of sailors — Smuggling sam-shu — Hoppo- Jack— San-pans — Sailors' holiday — Hog Lane — Ingenious contrivance — The sailor's death and burial . . . .187

Chapter IX

Navigation of River Tigris — Progress to Canton — The dollar-boat — Fishing-stakes — Banks of river — Mountains — Whampoa Island — Nine-story pagoda — Country pagoda — Smuggler's battery — Water treadmill — River-craft — Junks— Passage-boats — San-pans — Cheap travelling — Fruit-women — Wildgoose-chase — Insolence of natives — Horror of foreigners — The foreign ghosts Ghos-pidgeon — The halfway house — Halfway pagoda Ghos-house — Divarication of the stream — Currents of wind — The windward passage — Fruit-banks — The Chinese Blackwall— Sailmaker — Boatbuilder — Chop-house — Mandarin-boats — The floating islands — The leeward passage— The creek — Dangerous route — The Canton fishery — Accidents from the fishing-stakes — Infanticide — Maternal tenderness . . . CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter X

Approach to Canton — Trading juDks —Egg-shaped boats — Dock-yards — -Men-of-war — Up-country barges — Foreign commerce — Inland traffic — Accident on the river — Chops, or cargo-boats — Chinese costermonger — Morning visits — Effeminate appearance of upper classes — Flags ofthe factories — The English Ensign wanting — Flower-boats — Chinese women — Dangerous experiments — Anecdotes — Chinese modesty — The Tan-kea, or boat-people — Female visitors — Names of females — The Town of Boats — Houses — Streets — Lanes and alleys — Constant uproar — Cochin-Chinese junks — Tea-boats 230

Chapter XI

The landing — Difficulties of getting ashore — San-pans — Old women — Paddles — The stairs and jetties — Mandarins and Hoppos — Smuggling — The Company's Ghaut — The garden — Jealousy of government — Hongs — English wherries and funnies— Amusements of the residents — Restrictions on foreigners — Hotel of Standford and Marks — Company's factory — Assembly-rooms — Marquick's hotel — Life in an inn in China — Native servants — Tradesmen — Portable stoves — Apartments — Uncomfortable appearance — The valet-de-chambre — Calling a servant — Getting rid of one — Dress — Whiteness of the hands — Long sleeves . . . 249

Chapter XII

Mercantile hardships — Chinese pride — Troubles about native servants — First granted in 1715 — Admiral Drury CONTENTS. — The linguist— Lord Napier's visit — Night at the inn — The levee— Unknow nvisitors — Native calculations- Shopkeepers — Chinese English— Tailors — Odd blun ders — Tailors at Whampoa — Settling an account — Cumshaw — Shoemakers — Chinese Hoby — Open house of wealthy residents — The suburb — its extent — Squares — Hog Lane — Warehouses of Hong merchants — Old and New China Streets — -Courts and alleys — Absence of wheel-carriages and beasts of burden — Arrangement of shops — The gates of the city — The guards — Pusillanimity of native soldiers 272

Chapter XIII

Parts to which foreigners have access — Policy of the Government- — Extensive mercantile transactions — The Annual Edict — Feast of Lanterns — The square before the factories — Foundation of the Horigs — The floods — View of the river — Crowds of natives — Their occupations — The raree-shows — Depravity of lower orders — Their filthiness — Regulation of dress — The boat-people — Cages of live animals — Chow-chow — Dog-eating — Food of middle classes — Expulsion of shepherds — Food of upper ranks— The birds'-nests — Sea-slug — Poor people omnivorous — Chinese dog — Dog-butchers — Cats — Wild cat — Rats — Rice — Drinks — Tea — Fern-leaves — Sam-shu — Opium — Tobacco .... ILLUSTRATIONS. Frontispiece, Vol. I. PEASANTS ON DANES ISLAND. Frontispiece, Vol. II. HARBOUR OF MACAO. Frontispiece, Vol. III. FEASTING THE GRAND HOPPO. THE FAN-QUI IN CHINA.

Chapter I

China trade restricted to Canton — British free-traders — Direct voyage — Double voyage — Straits' produce — Time of proceeding to China — Monsoons — China seas — Typhoons — Destruction of native junks — Appearance of the ocean — Pulo Sapata — Dragon-flies — The Ladrones — Outside pilots — Dress of fishermen — Departure for Macao — Boatmen — Olo man — Description of fast-boat — Night among the islands — Ye-moon, Yat-moon — Passage between them — Ghos-paper, crackers, &c. — Ghos-pidgeon — Chinese bed — Pillow — Ghos-house — Ghos-stick — Ghos-paper — Altercation among the fishermen — The larger Chee-chow — Ramble on shore — Departure and arrival at the port. In looking over my note-book, since my return to England, I was surprised to find in it many things, which have never yet, to my VOL. I. B INTERCOURSE WITH THE CHINESE. knowledge, appeared in any work on China.

Circumstances, which of themselves may be considered unimportant, are sometimes of the greatest consequence, when the information relative to the subject on which they bear, is scanty; and very often the national character is more fully idustrated by them, than by the greatest efforts of the cabinet. Impressed with this conviction, and sensible how interesting every thing connected with the Chinese is at the present moment, I am induced to submit to the public the following account of the in tercourse of the British with them, while engaged in the purchase of teas at the port of Canton. If the goodnatured reader is inclined to accompany me, I trust that I shall be able to give him a notion of European hfe in China, and, perhaps, to introduce him to as intimate an acquaintance with this singular people, as the very limited nature of our intercourse will now admit.

It is well known, that the whole of the trade of foreigners with the Chinese, is restricted to a single port. Attempts have lately been made to carry opium and other goods more to the northward, and to traffic with the natives in various inlets along the coast, but without sue- BRITISH FREE-TRADERS. 3 cess. Prejudice has assisted the action of the laws, in preventing all intercourse with stran gers, but that allowed by the despotic government of the Celestial Empire. Fan-qui is the title applied by the natives to all but their own brethren ; and this term often means, if we may judge by the gestures with which it is accom panied, " You horrid barbarous devil," or some thing equally complimentary. The British free-traders proceed to the China seas, either direct, through the Straits of Banka and Gasper, or having made a passage to one of the Presidencies of India, continue what is called a double voyage, through the Straits of Malacca.

The splendid Indiamen engaged in this service are an honor to the nation which sends them forth, and plainly point out the importance of the trade. They range from 600 to 1400 tons burden, and are fitted up in the best style for comfort and se curity. The inhabitants of these wooden castles consist of a captain, three or four mates, a sur geon, and from forty to eighty seamen, including petty officers. A few cannon are generally kept mounted, and small arms are in constant readiness. In the larger vessels, the uniform and etiquette ofthe Company's service are still B FREE-TRADERS. kept up ; but, in others, the general manners of ship-board are more or less followed. The vessels direct from England generally carry assorted cargoes of European manufactures, and fill up as they pass through, with Straits' produce.

This consists of great quan tities of rattans, known by every boy as the schoolmaster's canes ; bags of betel-nuts, tin, pepper, and other produce of the islands, among which they are obliged to navigate. There is a constant demand for these goods in China. The double-voyage ships, after landing their passengers at Madras, Bombay, or Calcutta, fill up with bales of raw cotton, and, perhaps, a few chests of opium. The trade in opium is, however, mostly carried on in vessels expressly built for the purpose. When they reach the Straits, every hole and corner is crammed with rattans and betel-nuts, which are procured either at Malacca or Singapore. Even the main and mizen chains and hammock-nettings are, occasionady, filled with these articles, whence the ship has a topheavy, cumbrous appearance, so that if there be much swell, she will, literally, appear " half-seas over."

After passing through the narrow channels, which is the most dangerous part of the TYPHOONS. 5 voyage, we enter the China seas. The time generally chosen for the passage up to Canton, is either in June, July, or August, during the prevalence of the south-west monsoon, when the wind is more or less aft all the way, and allows the studding-sails to be set. Besides, the wind is, generally, more moderate during this season ; but, when the north-easterly winds have set in, during the other half of the year, from October to April, the finest ship in the navy would find it difficult to beat up against them. The China seas have a very bad name among navigators, partly owing to the shores being but imperfectly laid down in charts ; to the existence of numerous currents, the strength and direction of which, at different times of the year, either vary, or are imperfectly known ; and to the fact of some unfortunate vessel or other constantly stumbling upon some unknown reef or shallow soundings.

There are also other ways of accounting for the loss of numerous ships, which are con stantly missing. At uncertain times of the year, but chiefly during the prevalence of the north-east monsoon, the most tremendous typhoons prevail, setting at utter defiance the NATIVE JUNKS. skill and exertions of man: at one moment blowing directly astern, driving the ship with headlong violence before it, with the sea rising in mountainous waves over the taffril ; the next shifting ahead, taking every thing aback, and impelling her with equal violence in an opposite direction. Very few vessels have been able to outlive this weather: they are either buried stern foremost, immediately, or, if they survive the shock, they have to combat with the waves, without a stick or a piece of canvas left standing. The large Chinese junks are frequently out during this weather, and almost invariably founder.

They have been seen, occasionally, by our ships, when just on the point of going down, and the poor wretches on board have been taken out of them, when they had given up all hopes of being saved. This unpleasant state of the weather, I must fairly own, I have never myself encountered. When I sailed up these seas, it was towards the latter end of August, and every thing then as sumed a different appearance. After leaving the last blue trace of Pulo Pisang and Timoar far away astern, the gentle breeze, varying from west south-west to south-west, wafted us, with every studding-sail set, at the rate of two or three knots PULO SAPATA. an hour, towards the place of our destination. The ship, like a huge black-bodied bird, with its white wings extended, might then be seen cleaving her way, with a firm yet almost insen sible motion, over the bosom of the waters — the wide, smooth expanse around reflecting back the rays of the burning sun, and only occasionady disturbed by the frolics of bonetas and albicores, springing out of, and returning to the waters.

The heavens were beautifully clear, without a cloud to be seen, whilst a booby or two would flap lazily along amongst the rigging, or a Mother Carey's chicken, or a swadow, would wheel and skim along the surface of the ocean. As we passed along, in this easy and delightful manner, those who had never been here before expected to find something uncommon, even in the appearance of natural objects. The little island of Pulo Sapata was gazed upon with curiosity, as one of the places where it is reported the Chinese procure their swadows' nests, so much esteemed in that country for the making of soup. Some little birds of this species flew into the ports and were taken, but no difference was discoverable between them and those of our own country. It was noticed that GREAT LEMMA CHANNEL. the sea presented at different times the appear ance of strong ripplings, and once or twice a portion of it seemed to be raised considerably above the surrounding parts, with a distinct and well-defined edge.

The sea was particularly calm at the time, so that it could be well observed. As we approached the land, the wind fell off nearly to a dead calm, and we were welcomed by the arrival of a great number of dragon-flies, which played up and down about the stern, exhibiting their splendid colours in the direct blaze of the sun. After ten days' sail from the Straits, the high land of the Ladrone Islands was discovered ahead. These lie directly at the mouth of the Canton river. The channels between them are, for the most part, safe for shipping ; but that to the eastward of the Lemma island, called the Great Lemma channel, is generady preferred. As we gradually approached them, the blue tint of the distance was seen streaked with white and yedow, and, subsequently, we could observe the steep sides clothed more or less with stunted vegetation, and cut in different parts into those garden terraces so peculiar to the LADRONE ISLANDS. 9 Chinese, and which appear in the distance as so many steps, one above the other, for the purpose of ascending to the tops of the hills.

These islands were named Ladrone by the Portuguese, who appear to have expelled from them a great number of pirates, who infested those parts, and did great injury to the Chinese shipping. The English, likewise, have given a name to each of them — the Grand Ladrone and Asses' Ears, for instance ; whilst the original names are still retained by the Chinese, and they will point you out Ye-moon, Yat-moon, Chee-chow, or any other you please to ask for. They are of uncertain vegetation : those which will bear cultivation are let out to farmers, and the barren ones are inhabited, at their pleasure, by fishermen and others. Off the Ladrones you see a few native boats, belonging either to fishermen or outside-pilots. One of the latter class is very quickly on board, to conduct the ship between the islands, as far as the Macao roads.

These outside pilots are a very simple, well meaning race of people, who get their living by fishing, when they have finished their pilotage. As they are the first of the Chinese whom we meet with, we must devote a few lines to a b CHINESE FISHERMEN. description of their appearance. They are rather above the middle size, upright and active. The hair, which is always of a jet black colour, is shaved close in front, the por tion behind being codected together and plaited in the form of a long queue, down the back. The dress consists simply of a long tunic, made of blue, white, or red nankeen, reaching down below the knees, simdar in appearance to the round pinafore of an overgrown schoolboy, and a pair of loose trousers made of the same material. No shoes are worn on the feet, ex cept on very grand occasions.

This description applies to the men, no women being allowed to go out to sea. These pilots are supposed to know the depth of water in the different channels, with the times of the changes of the tides, but very httle trust is reposed in them, and they are not educated and sworn-in for the office. As the ship works her way slowly among the islands, the pilot-boat is always sent to Macao to land the despatches and letters for China, and to bring off the inside pilot, without whom and his chop the vessel cannot proceed up the river. If the ship gets on quickly, she has to wait for the boat either in the Macao roads, or OUTSIDE PILOTS. 11 at Lintin ; otherwise, the boat returns to find her in the channel. I took up my abode on board the fast-boat, as it is caded, at about three in the afternoon of a fine clear day, to proceed to Macao on this httle expe dition.

There wras very little wind stirring when we left the ship, and before we reached the western extremity of the Asses' Ears, to enter a little channel between the islands, it had died away altogether. Sufficient time was there fore allowed me to observe the companions with whom I was thus for a short time asso ciated. The outside pilot had left a man, whom he called his partner, on board the ship, to take charge during his own absence at Macao. He was a tall, thin man, his hair turned gray with age, and of a kind, mild expression of countenance. He wore a long frock, made of shining black linen. He had six men and two boys under his charge. The men were kept for the purpose of working at the oars, and otherwise assisting in the manage ment of the boat. One of the boys was the son of the pilot, and appeared to come out for pleasure ; the other, about eleven yearp of age, acted as cook, and had the entire ma nagement of domestic matters.

I was much THE FAST-BOAT. struck with the air of cheerfulness and good humour which seemed to reign among this little company. They talked and joked to gether constantly, and, when their hands wrere not employed in hard labour, were to be seen with a pipe in their mouths, or with one which took the circuit of the whole company. The old man was the only one among them who could speak a little Enghsh, and by the assistance of nods and gestures we managed to understand each other tolerably. The boat was kept extremely clean. The hull was about the size of one of our Deal boats, about thirty feet long, much higher out of the water abaft than forward, with a cabin in the centre, and the other parts decked over with moveable boards, and arranged into compartments, as cupboards and kitchens. The water was kept in large vessels forward, and the removal of three or four planks abaft the cabin, discovered the whole arrangement of stoves, pots, and kettles, necessary for practising the art and science of gastronomy.

When there is no wind a moveable house is shipped overhead, to protect you from the in tense heat of the sun. This is taken down again when the breeze springs up, and the sails THE FAST-BOAT. are hoisted. The fore and main masts are sup ported, as with us, by backstays, and the whole apparatus of the rigging is very simple. The sails consist of squares of matting, sewn to gether, with a yard at the top for the purpose of hoisting, and cross-pieces of lighter bamboo below, at the distance of two or three feet asunder, in the same direction, for the purpose of stretching the sail. The halyards are fastened nearer to one end of the yard than to the other, and are then passed through a block at the masthead. As the sail is hoisted, pieces of string fasten, in a loose manner, the cross pieces to the mast, keeping it from flying away, but yet allowing it to traverse freely up and down.

There is nothing wanting, then, but the sheet, which consists of numerous pieces of cord coming from the long end of the yard, and the extremities of the cross-pieces ; these are graduady codected by means of clumsy wooden blocks, without sheaves, and ultimately terminate in a single rope, which is belayed upon deck. The rudder is very large, and would be well represented by a moderate-sized grating, with a small capstan-bar attached. It YE-MOON AND YAT-MOON. is made to lift up, so as not to exceed the draught of the vessel in shadow water. This may be considered rather a minute description of this boat, but it merits it, per haps, as it is considered to sail well, and to have a resemblance to some fishing-boats which may be seen on the eastern parts of our own coasts. Although the fast-boats are made in the frailest manner, their buoyancy is such that they are often able to stand out the roughest weather, when vessels more strongly built would go to the bottom.

It was completely dark by the time that we entered the little channel between the islands of Ye-moon and Yat-moon. Perfect silence reigned on board our httle craft, and, as we passed close under the steep sides of the land, we heard the heavy dash of the waves upon the rocks, and had to use considerable exertion at times to avoid being carried among the eddies, which wrere scarcely a boat's length from us on either side. The men plied the oars stoutly, assisted when most needed by the helmsman and one of the boys. The narrowest part of the channel was soon passed, and the sides of the little islets could then be faintly traced GHOS-PIDGEON. 15 against the dark sky, diverging on either hand, until lost in obscurity. At this time I was very much surprised by one of the little boys rushing down below, and almost immediately returning with a large piece of paper in his hand flaring and flaming in a violent manner.

The sudden light thrown upon my companions enabled me to watch the ex pression of their countenances ; but there was nothing but the same calm and apathetic gaze which I had before noticed. The lad went aft to the extreme end of the vessel, and held the burning paper high up in the air. When it was nearly consumed, he threw it from him with great care into the water. It floated on the surface, and its red light was still to be seen when we had receded some distance from the place. The boy seemed to look with satisfaction at the blaze, and when it was extinct he turned his eye towards the shore. A glowing light of a simdar kind was then suddenly raised at the water's edge of both the little islands, and we could hear distinctly a number of small reports following each other with great rapidity.

I was at no loss to under stand the meaning of these noises, for the same thing took place, at the same moment, imme- FIREWORKS. diately over my head. A quantity of crackers were placed in a basket, and having been lighted, were hoisted on a pole held by one of the men. About a hundred of these rascady little fireworks went off in rapid succession, which enveloped me in a cloud of smoke, far from agreeable either to the eyes or to the nose. The idea of my being among the Ladrone or Robber islands made me, at first, imagine that mischief was intended, and that this was a signal for the approach of a host of enemies. The place, the extreme darkness, the perfect silence, and the belief that we had no other human being in the neighbourhood, all contri buted to alarm me for the moment. But every thing was quiet in a few minutes.