62 THE LIU-KIU ISLANDS. [chap. 



and as we trotted along, fresh crowds joined us at every street 

 corner. Our sturdy little bearers put on their best pace, and we 

 swept along regardless of anything that might lie in our path. 

 Most of those we met were wise enough to run with the stream, 

 or to flatten themselves against the wall until it had passed, with 

 the single exception of a grave-looking old gentleman with a baby 

 in his arms, — of the stuff of which heroes are made. In him duty 

 was swallowed up in no considerations of caution, and regardless 

 of the advancing multitude, he calmly awaited our approach, and 

 executed the profoundest of bows. He never finished it. In an 

 instant the wave of humanity had overwhelmed him. Taken in 

 flank by two solemn damsels whose eyes were steadily glued on 

 the most ornamental of our party, he was capsized in a moment, 

 and the unhappy baby flew out of his arms with an impetus 

 which must have caused considerable discomfort in its check. 

 Both were, however, almost instantly rescued, or it might have 

 gone hard with them ; and from my last glimpse at the old 

 gentleman's unmoved face, it appeared as if he regarded the affair 

 as one of the common incidents of life. Placidity of disposition 

 and imperturbable good-humour seem to be the normal condition 

 of this pleasant little people, and I do not think I saw a cross look 

 or heard an angry exclamation during the whole of ovir visit. 



We reached the pier without further accident, and were at 

 length able to get free from the good-natured, though somewhat 

 tiring multitudes who surrounded us. Little Uyeno and the 

 secretary waved their fans in adieu ; the bystanders executed 

 such obeisances as their cramped position and the insecurity of 

 their footing at the edge of the jetty permitted ; and in a few 

 minutes we were once more on board, somewhat fatigued with 

 our exertions, but pleased with the success of an expedition 

 which had proved even more amusing and interesting than we 

 had anticipated. 



Next morning we made preparations for our departure. Our 

 wild-looking American friend, through whose agency we had 



