EXTORTION. 79 



as soon as they give out roots, are cut off and 

 transplanted : the branches are then tied in the 

 various forms required, so as to oblige them to 

 grow in particular positions ; and many other 

 methods are adopted to confine and prevent the 

 spreading of the root ; the stems, or perhaps 

 they might then be termed trunks, are smeared 

 with sugar, and holes are bored in them, in 

 which sugar is also placed to attract the ants, 

 who, eating about it, give the trunk an appear- 

 ance of age. I saw at Mr. Beale's a number of 

 dwarf trees, which have been in his possession 

 nearly forty years ; and the only operation per- 

 formed to keep them in that peculiar and curious 

 state, is to clip the sprigs that may sprout out 

 too luxuriantly. 



There is an infamous custom existing at Macao, 

 obliging Europeans, arriving or taking their de- 

 parture in Chinese boats, to pay several dollars to 

 the mandarins. Great blame is certainly attached 

 to the imbecility of the Portuguese government, 

 for permitting such proceedings to take place in 

 their city, and not far distant from the house of 

 the governors. It has been said, " if strangers 

 will resist the demand, the governor will support 

 them." This is a miserable system of legisla- 

 tion, and can only be construed into a fear of 

 the Chinese by the Macao government, which I 



