A Residence Among the Chinese; Inland, On the Coast and at Sea; being a Narrative of Scenes and Adventures During a Third Visit to China from 1853 to 1856, including Notices of Many Natural Productions and Works of Art, the Culture of Silk

Front matter

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Natural History Museum Library

Chapter I

Arrival at Shanghae — Kindness of Mr. Beale — An earthquake — Chinese superstitions — Hairs said to come out of the ground — An examination and the result — Reports of a sunken village — Preparations to visit it — Contradictory statements — The truth at last ! — The Chinese rebellion—lIts rise and progress—Taking of Nanking — Alarm at Shanghae— Means taken for protection — Taoutai’s request for foreign aid —Sir George Bonham proceeds to Nanking — Arrogance of the insurgents — War-vessels of America and France visit them — The religion of the — insurgents fanaticism — An extraordinary official statement — Future prospects as regards Christianity .. .. .. Page 1

CHAPTER IL.

Objects in visiting China— My boat and boatmen— A groundless alarm — Chinese pilgrims — Chair-bearers — Road to Ayuka’s

_ temple — Crowds by the way — Shyness of ladies — Description of scenery — Wild flowers — Tea-farms — Approaches to temple

— Ancient tree — Hawkers and their stalls — Scene in temple — Visit to high priest — Shay-le or precious relic — Its history and traditions — A picnic — Character of the people for sobriety — An evening stroll — The temple at night -— Huge idols — Queen

of Heaven and child — Superstitions of Chinese women .. 22

CHAPTER, 111

Tea-gatherers and their wages— Food of Chinese labourers compared with the food of the same class in England — Old city of Tse-kee — Streets and shops — Market — Mode of skinning frogs

X CONTENTS.

—Temple on hill and fine scenery — Lake near north gate — Temples and priests — My servant’s mode of answering questions — Chesnut-trees discovered — Introduced to India — Chinese tombs and ceremonies — A widow comes to worship — Beggars and coffins — Different customs in different countries — Retections ei. aks Cyc wea ueG ts sales Went cas ee emma Al

CHAPTER IV.

Entomology — Chinese ideas respecting my collections — My sanity doubtful — Mode of employing natives to assist me —A scene on returning to my boat— Curious tree — Visit from a mandarin — An endeavour to explain my objects in making collections of natural history — Crowds of natives — Their quietness and civility — Return mandarin’s visit—My reception — Example of Chinese politeness — Our conversation — Inquisitiveness of his ladies and its consequences — Beauty of ladies at Tse-kee — Our luncheon and adieu wa Sele pale ee mmm ae OO

CHAPTER V.

Visit a collector of ancient works of art — His house and garden — Inspect his collections of old crackle china and other vases, &c. — Fondness of Chinese for their own ancient works of art — Description of ancient porcelain most prized by them — Ancient enamels — Foo-chow enamels— Jade-stone — Rock crystal — — Magnetic iron and other minerals — Gold-stone — Red lacquer and gold japan — Porcelain bottles found in Egyptian tombs — Found also in China at the present day — Age of these — Mr. Medhurst!s remariisi ius ii esf Geen Ween? ucéctw | sleigh a eee

CHAPTER VI.

Boat-travelling — Unsettled state of the country — A midnight alarm —Old quarters at Tein-tung — A good Buddhist priest — Chinese farmers — Their wives and families — Chinese women’s passion, and its effects — Woman’s curse — The author is seized with fever — A native doctor and his mode of treatment — Method of taking honey from bees — Mosquito tobacco — Its composition and manufacture va (law) E) Reeah oie rah aah oh aa

CONTENTS. x1

CHAPTER VII.

Difficulty in procuring black-tea manufacturers — Return to Shanghae — City taken by a band of rebels— Chief magistrate murdered — Strange prejudices of foreign residents — Their professions of neutrality — Chinese warfare — Dr. Lockhart’s hospital and patients — Value of medical missions — Public opinion changes —Shanghae evacuated by the rebels — Entered by the Imperialists — Cruelty of soldiers — Effects of the rebellion on Me maAccHON DUeCrCOUNITY .. 2 2. 1 2. ses es os ee age, LEG

CHAPTER VIII.

Return to the tea-districts of Chekiang —Mode of making collections of seeds amongst Chinese peasantry — Messengers sent to Moo-yuen and Ping-shuy — Ping-shuy teas — Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India— Varnish-tree — Wax-insect tree — Soap-tree — Death and funeral of a Buddhist priest — New blue dye — Its cultivation and manufacture — “ Green indigo” — Its imumoduchom to lmdiajand Kurope .. 9 3. 5. 74 .. 1. 142

CHAPTER TX.

Journey to the Snowy Valley and waterfalls — Kong-k‘how pagoda — Adventure with a blind man— Elaborate carving —A new acquaintance, Mr. Achang — Iron-ore— Mountain stream — Its rafts and cormorants— The temple of the Snowy Valley — Description of the falls — Our dinner and guests — How Mr. Achang enjoys it— His lecture on medical botany and lucky spots for graves — A Buddhist recluse — Continue our journey across the mountains — Natural productions — Fine variety of bamboo — Its introduction to India — Romantic glen — Arrive at our boats Amamiceadteu to Mar. A chang... nic dal 2 te See aes oe EL

CHAPTER X.

Collections shipped for India—Success attending this year’s importations — Visit Canton — Method of scenting teas described xii CONTENTS.

— Flowers used in the operation — Their scientific and Chinese names — Their relative value— Prices paid for them — Manufacture of “caper” described — Inferior ditto — “ Lie capers” — Orange pekoe — High character of foreign merchants in China — Howqua’s garden described — Its plants, ornamental doors, and alcoves, &c. — Polite notices to visitors worthy of imitation a Mi Oe 4 BILE re uurnaile hier nr ieee ie: Paes: 1G

CHAPTER XI.

Visit the port of Foo-chow-foo — Its foreign trade — The advantages and disadvantages of the port — Steamer “ Confucius ”— Sail for Formosa — An amateur watch kept — Sea-sickness of mandarins — Appearance of Formosa from sea— Land on the island — Rice-paper plant — The natives — Productions of the island — Suggestions to the navy in these seas—Sail for Shanghae — Spring and spring flowers se giclee... ots, earn. gee eee en

CHAPTER AIL.

Return to Chekiang — A journey to the interior — Chinese country fair —Small feet of women— How formed, and the results — Stalls at the fair — Ancient porcelain seal same as found in the bogs of Ireland — Theatricals — Chinese actors — Natural productions of the country — Liliaceous medicinal plant — “Cold water temple” — Start for Tsan-tsin— Mountain scenery and productions — Astonishment of the people — A little boy’s opinion of my habits Be Neel cee Ree tore eee ee ol

CHAPTER XiIIL

A dinner audience — Adventure with a priest— Sanatarium for Ningpo missionaries and others— Abies Kempferi— Journey to Quan-ting —Bamboo woods and their value — Magnificent scenery — Natives of Poo-in-chee — Golden bell at Quan-ting — Chinese traditions — Cold of the mountains — Journey with Mr. Wang — A disappointment — Adventure with pirates — Strange but satisfactory signal— Results .. .. .. .. 268

CONTENTS. xi

CHAPTER XIV.

Season’s collections shipped for India— Ancient porcelain vase — Chinese dealers — Joined by two friends — Inland journey — City of Yu-yaou — Fine rice district — Appearance and conduct of natives — Laughable occurrence with an avaricious boatman — Soil and rocks of district — Village of Ne-ka-loo and Chinese inn — Shores of the bay of Hang-chow — Salt and its manufacture — Curious moonlight journey — Rapid tides — Passage junk — Voyage across the bay— Chinese sailors— Arrive at Ga OOM eS RR i ogo! eae ee PAB DOA

CHAPTER XV.

The Tsien-tang river — Its eagre or “bore’?— Appearance it presents — Effects it produces— Superstitions of the natives — City of Kan-poo — Mentioned by Marco Polo— Its decay as a maritime port— Another source of wealth — Its inhabitants — Village of Luh-le-heen — Engage canal boats— Pass through borders of silk country — City of Yuen-hwa— Supposed emporium for “ Yuen-fa” silk— Geology of isolated hills — City of Ping-hoo — Way to manage Chinese crowds — Shops and gardens — A dangerous position — Arrive at Shanghae .._ .. 316

CHAPTER XVL.

Leave Shanghae for the silk country — Melancholy results of the Shanghae rebellion — Country and productions about Cading — Indigo and safflower — Bamboo paper-making—Insects — Lakes and marshy country — Visit the town of Nan-tsin in the silk districts — Its shops and inhabitants — Producers of raw silk and silk merchants — Description of silk country — Soil — Method of cultivating the mulberry—Valuable varieties—Increased by grafting and not by seeds — Method of gathering the leaves — Hills near Hoo-chow-foo— Temples and priests .. .. 331

CHAPTER XVII.

Enter the city of Hoo-chow-foo — Chinese crowds— Description of the city — Richness of the shops — Fans and silks — Rich dresses of the people — Raw silk and hongs— Flowered crapes

X1V CONTENTS.

—Chinese play and audience— How I perform my part !— Leave the city— Charming scenes in the country — Thrown silk — Silk villages and their inhabitants — Temple of Wan-shew-si and its priests —'Taou-chang-shan pagoda — Glorious views fromthe pagoda hill ...0 2.0.2 3.) 30 4 a Rage 350

CHAPTER XVIII.

Ascend the Lun-ke river — A musical Buddhist high priest — Hooshan monastery — Its silk-worms— Mode of feeding them — General treatment — Their aversion to noise and bright light — The country embanked in all directions — A farmer’s explanation of this— Town of Mei-che—Silk-worms begin to spin — Method of putting them on straw — Artificial heat employed — Reeling process — Machine described — Work-people — Silk Scenes in a monastery — Industrious Buddhist priests — Novel mode of catching fish —End of silk season— Price of raw silk where it is produced Soe Rules ic cie ie lols tga eee anne ace Ole)

CHAPTER XIX.

Leave the silk country — Adventure at Nanziang— A visit from thieves —I am robbed of everything — Unsuccessful efforts to trace the robbers — Astonished by another visit from them — Its objects — My clothes and papers returned — Their motives for this — A visit to the Nanziang mandarin — Means taken to catch the robbers— Two are caught and bambooed — My visit to the mandarin returned — Arrive at Shanghae — Report the robbery to Her Majesty’s Consul— A portion of the money recovered — The remainder supposed to be kept by the man- GATING ho. 2) paid Pee RL Hae 3 oo te a ee

CHAPTER XxX.

Tea-makers from Fokien and Kiangse engaged for India — Ningchow tea country — Formerly produced green teas — Now produces black — How this change took place — Difficulty in getting the men off— One of them arrested for debt — All on board at last and sent on to Calcutta— Coast infested with pirates — Ningpo missionaries robbed — Politeness of the pirates — Their

CONTENTS. XV rendezvous discovered — Attacked and destroyed by the ‘ Bittern’ — A mandarin in difficulty—The English “don’t fight fair? — Liberality of the Chinese and English merchants — Captain, Vansittart's reward .: §.) 23, %.~7.. ..7 Page 392

CHAPTER XXI.

Return to the interior — Curious superstition — Adventures with a priest — Journey in search of new trees — Mountain scenery — New Rhododendron — Valley of the Nine Stones — Fine trees — Yew and golden pine— Curiosity of the natives — A dark and stormy night — We lose ourselves amongst the mountains — Seek shelter in a hut— Alarm of the inmates — Morning after the storm — Return to Ningpo — A fine new plant discovered — Adieu to the north of China — Engage scented-tea makers, &c., at Canton —Sail for India— Complimentary letter from Lord Dalhousie — Ordered to visit the tea-plantations in the Himalayas and Punjab— Return to England .. .. .. .. .. . 405

CHAPTER XXII.

ON THE PRESENT WAR.

Dispute with the Chinese about the lorcha “ Arrow ”— Lorchas and their crews — Abuse of the English flag — Right of entrance into the city of Canton—The Chinese outwit us in diplomacy — True causes of our position in Canton — We have ourselves to blame — The policy which ought to be pursued — The city of Canton must be opened — Foolish restrictions on foreigners and their trade ought to be abolished — Direct communication with the court of Peking — Method of carrying out these views — Remarks on the climate with reference to the health of our TOONS OONCIISION 2. os 2. eee i seth! ned 2 408 ed dD bw SO KS H&S SB Se Oe Se Se eS NO) te ye Rey Oo Step) Rey ES RS pO SS

Oo <I G &% & cw Pb

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

INSP ISIN NI NI NI IS I IOI OI IOS OI

. Method of making “Caper” Tea .. .. .. Hrontispiece. . Boats used on the rivers in China

. Ladies and Children on a Pilgrimage to Ayuka’s Temple...

. Curious pilgrim-shaped Bottle, enamelled with butterflies

. Porcelain Vase enamelled with figures of animals and plants

Vase of sea-green crackle

. Oviform Bottle of rare turquoise colour

. Gourd-shaped Bottle of yellowish stone-colour crackle

. Ancient porcelain vessel ..

. Ancient Vase enamelled on metal..

. Bottle, same as found in Egyptian tombs

. Rain Cloak—Hemp palm

- Wax-Dree ..

. Tea-Picker—Canton

. Foo-chow Countrywoman

. Ancient porcelain Seals ..

. Larch Tree Ses ee

. View on the Grand Canal, with mulberry trees on its banks » Mulberry Tree-..

PAGE

22 25 65 79 81 84 85 85 87

THE CHINESE: INLAND, ON THE COAST, AND AT SEA.

CHAPTER I.

Arrival at Shanghae— Kindness of Mr. Beale— An earthquake — Chinese superstitions — Hairs said to come out of the ground — An examination and the result — Reports of a sunken village — Preparations to visit it — Contradictory statements —The truth at last! — The Chinese rebellion — Its rise and progress — Taking of Nanking — Alarm at Shanghae— Means taken for protection — Taoutai’s request for foreign aid — Sir George Bonham proceeds to Nanking — Arrogance of the insurgents — War-vessels of America and France visit them — The religion of the insurgents fanaticism — An extraordinary official statement — Future prospects as regards Christianity,

On the 14th of March, 1853, the Peninsular and Oriental steam-ship “Ganges,” in which I was a passenger, sailed from Hong-kong for the port of Shanghae—the most northerly of the five at which foreigners are permitted to trade. The wind for the most part of the way was “right a-head,” and sometimes it blew almost a gale; but the good ship, being powerful for her size, and well found in everything, ploughed the ocean “like a thing of life,’ and notwithstanding head winds and heavy seas we anchored in the Shanghae river four days B

2 AN HARTHQUAKE. CRAP RAL.

after leaving Hong-kong, having run in that time somewhere about nine hundred miles.

As on former occasions, I determined to make this port my head-quarters during my travels in the interior owing to the facilities it afforded for the despatch of my collections to India or to England. I was lucky enough to find my friend Mr. Beale, to whom I was so much indebted during my former “journey to‘the tea districts,” still in Shanghae, and as kind and hospitable as ever. He again invited me to make his house my home whenever I should visit this port, an invitation of which I availed myself frequently during the three years I have been in the country. His large and interesting garden I found of the greatest value, as in it I could store my various collections until an opportunity occurred of having them shipped for their destination.

During the few days of my stay in Shanghae I experienced for the first time in my life the shock of an earthquake, a phenomenon which is not unusual in this part of the world. It was about eleven o'clock at night, one of those beautiful nights which one finds only in the sunny lands of the Hast. The stars were shining brightly in the sky, but a slight haze seemed to spread itself overthe ground and the river; and the atmosphere, although perfectly calm, was warmer than is usual — at this early period of the spring. I had been dining out, and had just returned home, and was sitting with Mr. Beale at the drawing-room fire.

Cen. AN EARTHQUAKE. 3

In an instant I experienced an extraordinary and unaccountable sensation, which was perfectly new, and which I could neither understand nor explain. At the same moment the pheasants in the aviary began to scream, and the chandelier which hung from the ceiling swung slowly from side to side. “It is an earthquake,’ said Mr. Beale; “let us go out on the lawn in front of the house.” I confess I did not require a second bidding, but rushed out of the house forthwith. Mr. Beale, who seemed to have become accustomed to such things, quietly went to look for his hat in the lobby and then followed me. In the mean time his Excellency Sir George Bonham, her Majesty’s Plenipotentiary and Governor of Hong-kong, who was staying at this time with Mr. Beale, came down stairs, and all the other gentlemen in the house made their appearance also, most of them in their night-dresses, as they had retired to rest before the occurrence took place. All this happened in much less time than I take to write it. When we reached the lawn the ground seemed moving and swaying to and fro under our feet, and I experienced a slight sickening’ sensation not unlike sea-sickness. At the same time the whole scene was rendered more striking by the ringing of bells in the adjoining houses, the screams of birds, and the crash of a falling house as we thought, but which turned out afterwards to be a slimly-built wall. The first shock lasted for a few minutes only, but several were felt afterwards, although less severe than the first.

B 2 hel

4 SUBTERRANEAN HAIRS. Cuap. I.

When daylight dawned on the following morning it was found that the damage done was not very great. The wall I have already noticed had fallen, some beams in one of the houses had come through the ceiling, and a quantity of goods had tumbled down in one of the godowns. Most of the - clocks had stopped, and some few lamps and glasses were broken, but upon the whole the damage done was very inconsiderable. Groups of Chinese were seen in the gardens, road-sides, and fields, engaged in gathering hairs which are said to make their appearance on the surface of the ground after an earthquake takes place. This proceeding attracted a great deal of attention from some of the foreign residents in Shanghae, and the Chinese were closely examined upon the subject. Most of them fully believed that these hairs made their appearance only after an earthquake had occurred, but could give no satisfactory explanation of the phenomenon, while some more wise than their neighbours did not hesitate to affirm that. they belonged to some huge subterraneous animal whose slightest shake was sufficient to move the world.

I must confess, at the risk of being laughed at, that I was one of those who took an interest in this curious subject, and that [joined several groups who were searching for these hairs. In the course of my travels I have ever found it unwise to laugh at what I conceived to be the prejudices of a people simply because I could not understand them. In this instance, however, I must confess the

Cuap. I. CHINESE SUPERSTITION. 5)

results were not worth the trouble I took. The hairs, such as I picked up, and such as were shown me by the Chinese, had certainly been produced above the earth and not below it. In some instances they might readily be traced to horses, dogs, and cats, while in others they were evidently of vegetable origin. The north-eastern part of China produces a very valuable tree known by the name of the hemp-palm, from the quantity of fibrous bracts it produces on the stem just under its blossoms. Many of these fibres were shown to me by the Chinese as a portion of the hairs in question; and when I pointed out the source from — which such had come, and which it was impossible to dispute, my friends laughed, and with true Chinese politeness acknowledged I was right, and yet I have no doubt they still held their former opinions concerning the origin of such hairs. The whole matter simply resolves itself into this,—if the hairs pointed out to me were the true ones, then such things may be gathered not only after earthquakes but at any other time. But if, after all, these were not the real things, and if some vegetable (I shall not say animal) production was formed, owing to the peculiar condition of the atmosphere and from other causes, I ean only say that such production did not come under my observation.*

* During a recent visit to the north-west provinces of India, where earthquakes are not unfrequent, I could find no traditions such as that I have.alluded to.

6 A SUNKEN VILLAGE. Cuap. I.

A. day or two after the earthquake took place a report was current amongst the natives that a large tract of ground, on which a populous village stood, had sunk down into the bowels of the earth, carrying with it the whole of the people, and that the spot was now marked by a large pool of water. This report was repeated to me in the country at a considerable distance from Shanghae, and seemed to be generally believed by the inhabitants. An old nursery-gardener, from whom I was in the habit of purchasing plants, informed me the village in question had been full of bad people, and that this was no doubt a judgment from heaven on account of their sins. I hinted that there might be some danger to his own property and to the city of Shanghae; but the old man told me my fears were groundless.

Being anxious to verify the reports of the Chinese by a personal examination of the place, I determined to pay it a visit. Mr. Forbes, American Consul at Canton, and Mr. Shortrede, editor of the ‘China Mail, agreed to accompany me. I had been told the spot was distant from Shanghae some thirty miles up the river, and in a south-westerly direction, but the more minute my inquiries were the greater difficulty I had in finding out the exact locality. In the mean time all our arrangements had been made except the hiring of boats, and we had agreed to start on the following morning. [ had an excellent servant, a man who had travelled with me for several years, and whose

Cuap. I. A DISAPPOINTMENT, t duty it was to engage the boats we required for the journey. Before he left me for this purpose I desired him to take care the boatman knew the road, as it would never do to find out after we had started that no one knew which way to go. He left me on this mission, and was absent about two hours. When he returned he informed me that he had made the requisite inquiries about the sunken village, that such an occurrence had taken place, but instead of the spot being up the river we must go down in an opposite direction in order to find it. At the same time he told me candidly he did not think the boatman knew anything about the matter, and said I had better not go until something more satisfactory could be ascertained concerning it. I was reluctantly compelled to admit that his advice was good, and wrote to the others saying we had better put off the journey. And now it is worth while to mark the result of all this in order to get an idea of the extraordinary character of the people of China. A few days afterwards we were told with the greatest coolness, by the same parties who had formerly given the information about the sunken village, that “it was quite true such an occurrence had taken place, but that it had happened about two hundred years ago!”

While these events were going forward the rebellion in the interior of the country was causing the greatest excitement, not only amongst the natives, but also amongst foreign residents. The

8 THE REBELLION. Cuap. I.

rebels were known as the Kwang-si men, as they belonged to the province of that name, which had been for several years in a state of great disorder. In 1850, three years before the time of which I write, a memorial, presented to the government by a number of gentlemen in the province, shows that fully two-thirds of it was overrun by robbers, who committed great violence upon the inhabitants. “ At the time the petition was written hundreds and thousands of fields were lying uncultivated; the communications were in the hands of the outlaws, so that the supplies of government could not travel.” About the close of 1850 the well-known Commissioner Lin was summoned from his retirement in Fokien in order to put down the insurgents, but he died on the way. Sundry other high officers, civil and military, were sent against them, but apparently with but little success. In August, 1851, Hung-sew-tseuen, subsequently known as Tai-ping-wang, seized Yung-ngan, a city of a subprefecture in the east of the province, and held it until April, 1852. The insurgent force, of which he was the chief, advancing slowly at first, then commenced its northern march by moving upon the provincial capital Kwei-lin. The rebels soon left this city behind them, and, after seizing and abandoning various places in the south of Hoo-nan, in the middle of December took Yohchau, a city — on the river Yang-tse-kiang. Before the end of the month they had crossed this river, and stormed Wu-chang, the capital of Hu-peh; then descending

Cuap. I. ALARM AT SHANGHAE. i)

the stream, they captured every city of note on or near its banks, both in Kiang-si and Ngan-hwui, until they arrived at Nanking, the ancient southern capital, in Kiang-su, which they stormed in March, 1853." Os

When the news of the success of the rebels at Nanking and Chinkiang reached Shanghae, the alarm amongst all classes of the community was very great. Some persons were of opinion that the insurgents would march straight upon Shanghae, attracted thither by the reported wealth of the foreign merchants; and while the better informed did not apprehend much danger from this source, nearly all agreed in the propriety of taking some precautionary measures for the protection of the settlement. Meetings were held at the British Consulate, parties of sailors and marines were landed from our men-of-war, some rude fortifications were hastily thrown up, and every precaution was taken to prevent a surprise. It turned out afterwards that, however prudent these measures were at the time, they were quite uncalled for, as it does not seem to have been the intention of the insurgents to molest foreigners in any way whatever. |

The Taoutai of Shanghae —a native of the Canton province, and a man of reputed wealth— had been making great exertions in order to put down the rebellion. He had chartered a number of Portuguese lorchas and other vessels, and sent

* T. F. Wade, in ‘ China Mail,’ Sept. 12, 1855.

-

10 FOREIGN AID SOLICITED, Cuap. I.

them up to Nanking to arrest the progress of the now victorious and successful insurgents. In addition to this, he appled to Mr. Alcock, her Majesty's Consul at the port, to request Captain Saunderson, of H.M. brig “ily,” to proceed with that vessel to Nanking, and exterminate the rebels. Captain Saunderson very properly refused to comply with this modest request, stating at the same time that a small sailing-vessel like the “Lily” would be useless in a river where the tides were rapid.

Her Majesty’s Plenipotentiary, Sir George Bonham, having in the mean time arrived at Shanghae an the “ Hermes,’ accompamed by. ihe “¢ Salamander,” both war-steamers, the Taoutai renewed his application. After giving an account of the progress of the rebels received from the governor of Kiangsoo, which concluded by stating that, “if they are not speedily cut off, commerce will be interrupted, and the business of Chinese | and foreign merchants will be totally ruined,” he goes on as follows :-—

“T have to request that you will, in the first place, despatch the vessels of war which may have already arrived at Shanghae, together with that stationed there, to Nanking, that they may, with the lorchas under their command, make a combined attack, solemnly binding themselves to extirpate the rebels, in order to gratify the public mind and open the path of commerce. I have also to request that you will urge by letter the

Cuap. I. BUT NOT ACCORDED. 11 speedy advance of the vessels which have not yet arrived, and their successive departure for Nanking, in order to sweep away every remnant of rebellion, and give tranquillity to the country, to the great happiness of myself, the Chinese officials, and people. For this I earnestly pray and earnestly entreat.”