Departure from Shanghai. 537 



inflicted on the people, nor do they occupy It as though 

 they had any permanent interest in the land. Tliey take no 

 pains to tap those slow but sure springs of revenue, or to in- 

 crease the resources of the state. They lay themselves out 

 to maintain themselves by plunder. Nothing in their organ- 

 ization gives hope for any amelioration of the present or con- 

 solidation of power in the future ; there is nothing in the 

 entire history of the Tai-ping to enlist sympathy or compel 

 confidence in a movement which , under the mask of religious 

 reform, conceals the most hateful self-interest and ten^orism, 

 and under the pretext of spreading peace amongst men, 

 brandishes the scourge of destruction and desolation among 

 the provinces through which it has passed."* 



On the 11th of August the Novara quitted her anchorage off 

 Shanghai, and with the steam-tug Meteor f fastened to her side 

 availed herself of a spring tide to make her way into the Yang- 

 tse-Kiang. Off Wusung we awaited the arrival of the post, 



* Very similar are the reports made by the English who, in Dec. 1858, accom- 

 panied Lord Elgin on his voyage of discovery up the Kiang, and remained a con- 

 siderable period among the Tai-ping. " The tenets of their religion," says Mr. 

 Laurence Oliphant {pide Earl of Elgin's Mission to China and Japan, vol. ii. p. 463), 

 " consist of a singular jumbling of Jewish ordinances, Christian theology, and Chinese 

 philosophy. Like the Jews in the Old Testament they wage wars of extermination, 

 they live like the worst professing Christians, and they beUeve hke — Chinese." 



t The charges forwarded by the owners of the Uttle Meteor for towing, and which 

 are calculated according to the draught of water of the ship towed, was as follows : — 



« f From Shanehai to 'i 

 I; Gutzlaff's Island, / 



<aj Shanfihai to Wu-\ 

 •1] sung, ; 



•a From Wusung to "I 

 5 I GutzlafTs Island, i 



15 feet and under. 

 300 taels, or £90. 



ISOtaels, or£45. 



223 ta«ls, or 

 £62 10«. 



350 taels, or 450 taels, or 

 £105. £135 



175 taels, or 200 taels, or 

 £52 10s. £60. 



250 taels, or 275 taels, or 

 £75. I £82 10s. 



450 taels, or 

 £135. 



225 taels, or 

 £62 10s. 



300 ta<>ls, or 

 £90. 



19 ft. &aU beyond. 



500 taels, or 

 £150. 



250 taels, or £75. 



350 taels, or 

 £105. 



