224 EXHIBITION OF GUNS. 



small-shot gun ; with the latter I killed a swallow on 

 the wing, and with the former smashed a brick 

 placed as a mark. After observing these results, the 

 Chinese commander tried himself, but shot wide of 

 the mark. 



In the meanwhile they brought some old English 

 military guns and double-barrelled pistols to show us. 

 The mandarin loaded a о^ип, but could not hit a 

 mark at twenty paces ; then he fired a few more 

 shots, and about the fifth shot broke the brick. 

 Gratified with his success, he re-entered the house ; 

 whilst we were taken to the lodging of an officer, 

 who entertained us with water-melon, tea, and a 

 kind of soup. 



Half-an-hour afterwards we were again conducted 

 to the Chinese Commander-in-chief. ' I must look 

 at your things and make a list of them,' said he. 

 ' Tell me how many, and лvhat guns you have.' To 

 this I assented, and a clerk wrote down at my dic- 

 tation a detailed description of our rifles, smooth 

 bores, revolvers, gunpowder, balls, &c. &c. It had 

 now become dark, and a tallow candle and sesamum- 

 oil lamp were lighted in the mandarin's house. 



The audience, however, did not last much longer. 

 The mandarin only asked us to sell him a rifle, and 

 on being refused, ordered his men to ferry us back 

 across the Hoang-ho. On returning to our tent, we 

 were greatly delighted to find Faust, who had 

 acconipanicd us from camp, but had been lost in the 

 town ; it appeared that, tired with waiting and 

 friHitened at the noise made b^• the crowd, he swam 



