56 CHIMOO PAGODA. [Cuar. IV. 
same barren and rocky character. No one noticed 
or molested me in any way. 
After enjoying the view of the country from the 
top of the hills, I again descended to the low 
ground by a different way from that by which I 
had come; but no sooner did I reach the plain, 
than I was again surrounded by the natives. It 
was getting late in the afternoon, and my servant, I 
believe, felt rather tired, as I had intended he should 
when we started in the morning. He now began 
to scheme a little, to save himself from walking 
any farther than he could possibly help; and as | 
sometimes traversed rather wide circular routes in 
search of plants, he generally took the nearest way 
in the direction in which he knew we had ulti- 
mately to go. A few of the natives now began 
to follow me rather closely, and from their manner 
I suspected that their intentions were not good ; 
but as they pretended to take me to some place 
where I should see some good plants and flowers, 
I allowed them to accompany me, and tried to 
keep them all in good humour. We arrived 
at last in sight of a large mansion, standing in 
a retired part of the country, and I was pro- 
ceeding with perfect confidence towards it, when 
the Chinamen began to press more closely round 
me; and upon feeling a hand in my pocket, I turned 
quickly round, and saw the thief running off with 
a letter which he had abstracted. As soon as he 
saw he was discovered, he threw it on the ground, 
