Ch. IV.] VISIT TO THE MANDAEIN. 67 



sell it for 27 dollars. One dollar for duties and some other 

 slight expenses increase the cost, and about 10 per cent, of 

 the camphor is lost by evaporation during the transit ; for 

 with the proverbial dogged conservatism of their nation, 

 they insist on continuing to pack it in wood instead of 

 stowing it in tin cases, by which contrivance it might all 

 be saved. Still the profits are very considerable, and will 

 probably remain in the hands of the monopolists until some 

 enterprising Eiuropean merchant shaU wrest it from their 

 hands, and open up this important trade to foreign com- 

 petition. 



The branch of the river which diverges above Mbang-ka 

 from that leading to the camphor district is navigable for 

 boats up a series of rapids to the borders of the aborigines- 

 country. 



While at Mbang-ka, Capt. BuUock having made an ap- 

 pointment with the chief military mandarin of the district, 

 Ching-yung, to pay him a visit, we repaired to his ya-mun, 

 where he received us with official formality. His residence 

 was situated just outside the town ; and our party, includ- 

 ing Mr. Gregory, the vice-consul, having reached it, with a 

 procession of chairs at our heels (for we preferred walking, 

 although it was etiquette to go in chairs), we were saluted 

 with three guns as we entered the enclosure. In this en- 

 closure I may here mention that I observed a horse, belong- 

 ing to the mandarin, of the spotted circus-kind, which seems 

 to be most prized by the Chinese. Mr. MiUisch also pos- 

 sessed a horse j but these two were the only horses I saw in 

 all Formosa, though I have been informed that at Tai-wan- 

 foo, the capital, horses are known. Having seated ourselves 

 in the audience-chamber, tea was served in cups of egg" 



shell china by a number of attendants, as soon as they had 



F 2 



