SIX WEEKS IX A TOWER. 69 



his ponies "were freely placed at our disposal. All 

 this, however, had its special object : he was anxious 

 that we should stay with him, and he threatened his 

 brother with a clan fight if he did not send us over. 

 This formidable neighbour was " a perpetual menace," 

 for we were equally desirous not to offend him, and 

 not to place ourselves under much obligation to him, 

 either of which cards would have suited his game. 

 "We knew also that he could have instigated a mur- 

 derous attack upon us without committing himself. I 

 think I have met men like Wong Kum Sau in quieter 

 parts of the world than Kwei-shin. In person he 

 was upwards of six feet in height, cadaverous, gaunt, 

 yet strong. A confirmed opium-smoker, he also had 

 much relish for strong drinks, and was in all respects 

 a questionable person. To add to his formidable 

 character, he possessed no less than three revolvers, 

 which he was perpetually loading, firing, and clean- 

 ing, the first process being performed as far as pos- 

 sible with my ammunition ; and gingalls were fired 

 off day and night from his residence, in order to show 

 his martial disposition. 



Soon after our arrival, he asked us over to join in 

 the festivities occasioned by the marriage of a young 

 relative of his, who was dressed in yellow silk, while 

 the rest of the party wore bright-blue garments. This 

 thin and feeble-looking bridegroom was only sixteen 

 years old ; but I am bound to say that he flourished 

 in the sacred state, for a few weeks after, the sen 



