02 DISAFFECTION OF CBEW 



king men were reported to ])e sick, and all the re- 

 mainder wanted to return to take them back. Now 

 this would have caused a serious delay, and besides, 

 have put me to a considerable loss, for they liad all 

 been paid half their wages to Kia-ting-fu. My lowban, 

 however, here showed himself to be captain of the 

 boat by deeds and not in name only, for after some con- 

 siderable talk he managed to fasten upon the originator 

 of the trouble, and seizing him by the pigtail, he gave 

 him a sound thrashing with a bamboo, which at once 

 cured him of his sickness and rendered him fit for work 

 again. This was, no doubt, a rather dangerous method 

 of governing the crew in a district so far from any hope 

 of help in case of downright mutiny, but it answered, I 

 am glad to say, perfectly, and I had no furtlier trouble 

 with the men on this score. 



The character of the vegetation changed to-day, and 

 many trees of the cedar species were seen, together with 

 the sweet chestnut. Eighty li were made, and the 

 weather was slightly cooler ; thermometer 8-3°. 



April 28. — Made a start at dawn as usual, and 

 during the day a small town was passed, from which 

 crowds of people came down to the Ijanks and stoned 

 the boat, crying out, ' Kill the foreign devils.' 



Many stones pitched on board, but luckily no 

 serious damage was done. This was the first instance 



