‘92 DISAFFECTION OF CREW 
king men were reported to be 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 had 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 further 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. Highty li were made, and the 
weather was slightly cooler; thermometer 85°. 
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 banks 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 
