152 LOWBAN’S FLAG 
There being no students in the town now, I was 
able to visit it, and found a fine city with good shops 
and the people civil. There is a large trade done in 
silk, and the town is famous for its embroidery. There 
is also a considerable trade in the white vegetable 
‘wax. 
I was now busy packing, drying, and stowing away 
the collections in the boat. This place is very un- 
healthy at this time of year, and the weather was very 
rainy, but advantage was taken of every gleam of sun- 
shine to spread things out on the roof of the cabin to 
dry, damp being one’s principal enemy in this district. 
The river was now high, and the navigation 
dangerous. I therefore engaged a pilot who was said 
to have a good local knowledge. 
All being at last arranged and ready to start, the 
lowban came on board with two Yamen runners, who 
were to accompany me down the river. He informed 
me that if we had not got a flag we should be forced to 
stop at all the hsiens, or smaller towns, and that he 
could procure such a flag. He also said that it would 
save us from much annoyance from the natives, who 
were badly disposed towards foreigners. I told him 
that I only intended to stop at the fus, or large cities, 
and gave him an hour to procure the flag. He then 
went on shore, and after a while returned with it. It 
