552 FOURTH BULLETIN OF [1846. 



one of the miindarins to procure some for me from the interior, but, unfortunately, 

 before it arrived from the country the efibrt made to save the bishop stopped all 

 intercourse. 



July, 1845. — Owing to the jealous and restrictive policy of the Chinese, with 

 regard to foreigners, I was prohibited from visiting the neighborhood of Canton, 

 and my only resource to obtain any thing from the interior, was to employ a Chi- 

 nese to go into the country, and obtain seeds of their cultivated plants, and such 

 other objects as he tliought might be of interest to me. 



By this means, I obtained a large variety of seeds, and also insects in a good 

 state of preservation ; while in the meantime 1 employed myself in examining 

 what could be found in the markets, inspecting their manufactories, the articles of 

 export and import, and, by a certain deportment, which I found most agreeable to 

 them, I ascertained that 1 could gain access to phices where but fow foreigners 

 had ever been allowed to go, and with a small present always found the atten- 

 dants polito and courteous, though while passing through those streets but sel- 

 dom visited by foreigners, the crowds of spectators rendered progress almost im- 

 possible, while at the same time the stranger is saluted with the most base and 

 insulting language — the words " fan-qui-lo" (foreign devil man) being repeated 

 witli peculiar emphasis. But I observed that it was only the lowest orders of Chi- 

 nese that were thus uncivil to foreigners ; but this prejudice, no doubt, has been 

 fostered by the more influential class, who, from education and breeding, cannot 

 themselves thus treat a stranger. 



Indeed I am able to say with assurance, that, witli a proper course of conduct, a 

 stranger might pass to any part of tlie empire, without the least molestation; but it 

 would be necessary to use the nabit of the natives, and conform in all respects to 

 their peculiar manners, and avoid all collision with them, and, in intercourse with 

 them, the more urbanity and courtesy that was used, the greater would be the sue. 

 cess. lam induced to say tliis in consequence of the oft reiterated remark, that it 

 is impossible for strangers to visit the interior ot China ; and indeed it would be an 

 impossibility to visit it, as travellers commonly journey in foreign countries, in their 

 own dress, which only attracts attention. But if the traveller's object is to obtain 

 a knowledge of the countrv. its productions and inhabitants, the proper course 

 would be that of Dr. Horsefiold, (an American,) who visited Java some years since, 

 who, by adopting the dress of the Javanese, and conforming to their customs, was 

 enabled to travel through that country with perfect safety, and highly respected 

 for his medical skill. 



The only persons who of late years have had an opportunity of visiting China, 

 have been embassadors and their retinue, and certain Jesuits. The former have 

 had but little opportunity of examining the productions of the country, or obtaining 

 much information, in consequence of the hurried manner in which they passed 

 through the country ; and the latter, from being devoted entirely to religious sub- 

 jects, have not been prepared, or neglected, to investigate the natural productions 

 of the country so much desired, and which no doubt would be of great importance 

 to the United States, as the Cliincae empire is similarly situated, being on the eas- 

 tern side of a large continent, in the northern hemisphere, under similar degrees of 

 latitude, and having the extremes of summer and winter nearly the same. Being 

 celebrated for their agricultural and horticultural knowledge, which has scarcely 

 been interrupted for the space of three or four thousand years, we may expect therefore 

 that there are many productions in their extended country which would be proiitablo 

 in our own, and flourish there ; for it is a singular fact that many species of plants 

 in the two countries are identical ; and part of their country lying in the tropics, 

 it is very probable that they have succeeded in gradually acclimating many pro- 

 ductions of the tropics to endure the nioro rigorous winters of the temperate zone. 



Nearly all the productions of the temperate regions which are valuable have 

 been derived from the tropics, which during a long course of gradual acclimation 

 have become naturalized ; but many require the preservation of their seeds through 

 the winter, without which thoy would soon become extinct. This capability of 

 naturalizing vcgclablo productions should always be taken into consideration when 

 plants are introduced into temperate climates from tho trojiics, always preferring 

 those which grow farthest north, or on the most elevated ground. This was well 

 illusiraled by the roorus multicaulii, which lirsl reached the United Slates from 



