94 SUBURBS OF CANTON. 



be lauded by some for the space of a few days ; 

 then he will rise in importance, and every body 

 will buzz and talk the most extraordinary things 

 about him ; he will be a mystery, and all the 

 residents will be delighted with him, for he will 

 listen tranquilly, and in much of the conversa- 

 tion he will hear far more than he will in any 

 way be inclined to believe. The trifling or casual 

 passing observations are usually — "What news?" 

 "None." "Fine weather?"— "Yes." "Warm?" 

 — "Yes, exceedingly sultry." "Is opium get- 

 ting up?" — " Have not heard. No arrivals?" 

 "None! Good morning." 



Taking rambles over the narrow streets of the 

 suburbs of Canton, filled with elegant shops, 

 strictly Chinese, with the various gilded signs, 

 I witnessed a very novel and agreeable sight to a 

 stranger: every thing assumed a different ap- 

 pearance to that seen in any other country : the 

 narrow and crowded streets, hardly afford a pas- 

 sage for two persons abreast, and the constant 

 passing and re-passing of porters with their bur- 

 dens, bawling out to clear the way, is annoying to ' 

 passengers. The shops are fitted up in an ele- 

 gant style, and are, in many of the streets, ex- 

 ceedingly spacious : the shoemakers' shops are 

 filled with shoes, from those of the small-footed 

 w Oman decorated in a most tasteful and fanciful 



