CHINESE OYSTEKS. 77 



sharp edges of the oyster shells become so close to 

 the bottom of the boat, that if we had persevered 

 in forcing her out, we should soon have cut a hole 

 in her bottom. To get out and wade was im- 

 possible, as shoe leather would never have stood 

 the ordeal, therefore there was no alternative left 

 but to remain till the rising tide w^ould float us out ; 

 any thing but a pleasant resource, when time was 

 valuable and shooting at a premium. Slightly to 

 console our wounded feelings, we attacked the 

 oysters, which were excellent, and certainly de- 

 molished an immense quantity. Another time, in 

 a pheasant-shooting trip to Meer's Bay, one of the 

 minor inlets, where our lorcha was anchored, had 

 its margin densely covered with oysters, and the 

 natives did not make the slightest objection to our 

 using as many as required. From this circum- 

 stance it may be presumed that they knew no 

 marketable value for them, for if a Chinaman can 

 have the slightest grounds for fabricating an excuse 

 for squeezing an Englishman, he is certain to do it. 

 The only oysters that I have known exposed for 

 sale in Hong Kong, and those only in very small 

 quantities, when they are always purchased by the 

 Europeans, are from Amoy, and they are really 



