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118 SUPERSTITIONS OF THE CHINESE. [Cuar. VIII. 
by numerous gates and doors, which are fastened 
up about ten or eleven o’clock at night. This has 
doubtless been a very ancient custom, to prevent 
any sudden surprise by an enemy, or by the unruly 
populace themselves, and is still kept up in more 
peaceful times. When, therefore, we landed, we 
found all the gates in the suburbs closed and locked; 
and we had to pass through one at least before we 
could reach our quarters. Not a sound was heard; 
every house was closed; and all that dense multitude 
which thronged the street by day had sunk into 
repose. “ How shall we get through?” said my 
friend. ‘“ Shake the gate,” said I; ‘perhaps the noise 
will bring some one ; or perchance, as it seems pretty 
old, it may give way.” We took hold of the gate 
and gave it a good shake, calling out at the same 
time for some one to come and open it. The 
watchman’s light was now seen coming towards us, 
and my friend again called out to him to make 
haste. At last two men with their lanterns came 
up, in that dreamy state which I have already 
noticed as a characteristic feature in the Chinese 
race, and muffled up with skins, as the night was 
very cold. They could not see distinctly who were 
on the other side of the door; and, as we mumbled 
a word or two of Chinese, they were put completely 
off their guard, and supposed we were benighted 
Chinamen. The bolts were drawn, the door opened, 
and behold, two of the dreaded “red-haired race” 
stood before them. I shall never forget their asto- 
nishment when they got their eyes upon us after 
