MORAL CHARACTER. 447 



are but little advanced in civilization, owing doubtless to 

 the repugnance they have to hold any intercourse with 

 other nations, not even their neighbours, the Chinese, 

 being permitted to settle in their territory, and their 

 trade with that country and with Japan and Tartary 

 is exceedingly limited. They invariably repulsed us 

 in the same spirit on our attempting to invade the sanc- 

 tity of their towns and villages, not even allowing us 

 to enter within the walls of their cities. With the 

 same exclusive feeling and jealous alarm of foreigners, 

 they also evinced a great objection to receive anything 

 from us as presents. During our surveying duties, where 

 it was indispensably necessary to land and erect marks, 

 they frequently showed symptoms of hostility, and when 

 not opposed in a determined manner, were inclined to 

 assume a hectoring demeanour, threatening and com- 

 manding us to retreat; but we always found that their 

 courage consisted chiefly in a system of intimidation. 

 They are, however, very good-humoured, and seem to 

 enjoy anything like a joke exceedingly. All appear to be 

 passionately fond of spirituous liquors, nor can I say much 

 for their morality of conduct. They are great smokers, 

 carrying continually in their hands a long-stemmed pipe, 

 with a diminutive brass bowl, which they fill and empty 

 at brief intervals.* 



* The pipes of the Indo-Chinese races, including the Tartars, Chi- 

 nese, Koreans, and Japanese, are provided with a small metallic bowl, 

 and usually a long bamboo stem, for with persons who are in the habit 

 of smoking at short intervals all day long, a large bowl would be inad- 

 missible. By inhaling but a pinch of tobacco on one occasion, they 

 extend the narcotising influence of a larger pipe over a greater space of 

 time. Nations that smoke larger pipes adopt some other material for 

 the bowls, as metal would become too hot -. thus the Chibook of 



