10 FAVOURABLE OPINION OF THE CHINESE [Cnap. I. 
trary, in many respects they stand high in my 
estimation. During the last three years I have 
been continually among them; wandering over 
and among their hills, dining in their houses, and 
sleeping in their temples : and from this experience 
I do not hesitate in pronouncing them a very dif- 
ferent race from what they are generally supposed 
to be. The natives of the southern towns, and all 
along the coast, at least as far north as Chekiang, 
richly deserve the bad character which every one 
gives them; being remarkable for their hatred to 
foreigners and conceited notions of their own im- 
portance, besides abounding in characters of the 
very worst description, who are nothing less than 
thieves and pirates. But the character of the 
Chinese as a nation must not suffer from a partial 
view of this kind; for it must be recollected that, 
in every country, the worst and most lawless 
characters are amongst those who inhabit sea- 
port towns, and who come in contact with natives 
of other countries: and unfortunately we must 
confess that European nations have contributed 
their share to make these people what they really 
are. In the north of China, and more particularly 
inland, the natives are entirely different. There are 
doubtless bad characters and thieves amongst them 
too: but generally the traveller is not exposed to 
insult; and the natives are quiet, civil, and obliging. 
And although they are not entitled to the credit of 
being equal to, much less in advance of the nations 
of the West in science, in the arts, in government, or 
