286 Through the Yang-ise Gorges 



seeing the Viceroy himself, telling the Chinese that, if he 

 did not return in safety, his ship had orders to come up and 

 look for him. Needless to say that he got all he wanted 

 without firing a shot. 



How appUcable are the words in the following extracts 

 from "Anson's Voyage round the World" (London, 1748) 

 to the situation to-day ! 



" And yet this populous, this rich and extensive country, so 

 pompously celebrated for its refined wisdom and policy, was 

 conquered about an age since by a handful of Tartars ; and 

 even now by the cowardice of its inhabitants and the want of 

 proper military regulations, it continues exposed, not only to 

 the attempts of any potent state, but to the ravages of every 

 petty invader '' (p.^4i4). 



And how entreaties are of no avail, but threats omnipotent ! 



" Mr. Anson told him the next day that if he longer refused 

 to grant the permit (to revictual at Canton) he would man and 

 arm his own boats to carry him thither, asking the Hoppo at 

 the same time, who he imagined would dare to oppose him. The 

 threat immediately brought about what his entreaties had 

 laboured for in vain " (p. 365). 



" That if by the delay of supplying him with provisions, his 

 men should be reduced to the necessity of turning cannibals 

 and preying upon their own species, it was easy to be foreseen 

 that they would prefer the plump well-fed Chinese to their own 

 emaciated shipmates " (p. 362). 



The matter of the Upper Yang-tse navigation thus 

 remained in abeyance until the successful Japanese war of 

 1895 overthtew the barriers of Chinese conservatism by 

 main force. At the conclusion of the war the Japanese 

 were able to stipulate for the formal opening of Chung- 

 king to steamers, and the clause was embodied in the Treaty 

 of Simonoseki. This clause must have been a bitter pill 



