58 TOWN OF NA.PA. [1845, 



Having descended from our elevation, we entered a 

 Temple close at hand, where further supplies of tea, sake, 

 refreshments, &c. had been prepared for us ; after which, 

 somewhat to my surprise, our conductors led us by a road 

 directly for the city of Sheudi. At one moment I began 

 to fancy that they intended to surprise me by some mark 

 of peculiar favour, at another, that they wished to make 

 the experiment in order to ascertain how far they could 

 calculate upon our dispositions. The Padre, finding that 

 we were very near the city, even in the suburbs, and un- 

 attended by our Mandarin escort, wished to push forward, 

 but as my word had been pledged, either directly, or in- 

 directly, to refrain from such a step, I merely advanced 

 to the crossing, by way of ascertaining how far our guides 

 had neglected their trust, and drew up, when we were 

 soon rejoined by our attendants. As soon as they per- 

 ceived, by my smile, that I did not intend committing 

 them, they appeared voluntarily to relax, and I suspect 

 that had I been alone, they would not have objected to 

 my riding through the town. However, they took us by 

 a nearer route, immediately round the base of the little 

 hill on which it stands, and by this measure, we obtained 

 a shorter and more convenient road towards the town of 

 Napa, where we arrived without further incident, passing 

 through the suburbs at Pootsoong, without the slightest 

 surprise on the part of the residents, to whom, probably, 

 the appearance of the French had become familiar. 



During this excursion another subject was discussed 

 which entirely destroyed former' assertions as to the 

 questions of barter or use of money. In the first in- 

 stance, I have already alluded to the lowness of funds, on 



