1835.] Tea Province of Fuh-kin, in China. 555 



We bought a few supplies, but had a copper basin stolen while we 

 were aground. The flood began to make at o\ p. m., but it was 8§ 

 before we got into the right channel. For two hours nothing could 

 be more flattering than appearances ; but suddenly the water began 

 to shoal, and we were obliged to come to anchor. 



At day light of the 8th, we found ourselves surrounded by sand- 

 banks in all directions, without any visible channel by which we 

 might advance when the tide should rise. One man agreed to pilot 

 us into the Min for five dollars, and then left us. A second agreed 

 for two, taking one dollar in advance, and after accompanying us a 

 short wav, made off. At \ past 9 a. m., Mr. Gutzlaff landed with 

 the view of engaging some one to show us the way, when all at once 

 a Kwanfou with a gilt knob said he would be happy to be of any use 

 to us ; and as the wind was contrary, would assist by towing us with 

 his own boat. Mr. Gutzlaff accepted his offer. The man appeared 

 to be of the rank of a subaltern officer ; such a proffer coming from 

 such a quarter was of a very ambiguous character. He was probably 

 sent to watch our motions, and took this method of defeating our 

 object. We had, however, no alternative ; our attempts to engage a 

 pilot had failed, and we had found from experience, that without 

 some guide, we could not advance. Besides, we could cast off from 

 our professed friend as soon as we should see grounds for alarm. In 

 fact, he led us back towards the mouth of the Chang river, and when 

 he came close to a small hill fort, which we had observed the pre- 

 ceding morning, went ashore. We cast off immediately, and went 

 into the Fuh-chow branch, where, after running up a little way, we 

 anchored for the night. A cold drizzling rain made our situation not 

 very comfortable, and what was more, we found ourselves about two 

 in the morning in danger of canting over into deep water, from the 

 fall of the tide, leaving the boat's keel deeply fixed in the mud of a 

 sloping bank. 



May 9th. — The tide favoring us at 7 a. m., we got under weigh, 

 followed by a Government boat, and with a rattling breeze, soon 

 reached Fuh-chow-foo. When near the bridge, we anchored, and 

 struck our masts, and then shot through one of the openings with 

 great ease. There were about a score of soldiers drawn up in arms 

 at the bridge, and after we had passed through, four boats with soldiers 

 put off after us. Mr. Gutzlaff told the people on board, that if they 

 came alongside when we came to an anchor, we would communicate 

 with them. They continued to follow us at a little distance. Soon 

 afterwards we came in sight of a second bridge, when we feared we 

 should have been obliged to dismast ; on approaching it, however, we 



