210 A GARDEN DIARY 



JULY 14, 1900 



\ Jl 7ITH a mind full of China, and its abomina- 

 * * tions, I happened this afternoon to take 

 up The Opium Eater, and opened full upon the 

 passages describing the results of the Malay's 

 visit. What imagery to be sure ! What an 

 amazing rhetorician ! Certainly if all life were 

 the feverish dream, the half nightmare, one is 

 tempted sometimes to call it, no greater exponent 

 of its terrors has ever existed than Thomas de 

 Quincey. Take this as a prelude. 



"The Malay has been a frightful enemy for 

 months. I have been every night, through his 

 means, transported into Asiatic scenes. I know 

 not whether others share my feelings on this 

 point, but I have often thought that if I were 

 compelled to forego England, and to live in 

 China, and among Chinese manners, and modes 

 of life and scenery I should go mad. The causes 

 of my horror lie deep, and some of them must 

 be common to others. Southern Asia in general 

 is the seat of awful images and associations. As 



