252 VISIT TO SOO-CHOW. [Cuar. XII. 
I intended to go to, or how long I was to be absent 
from Shanghae. I simply told them we were 
going into the country in search of plants, and 
that they must take a supply of rice for several days. 
My Chinese servant, who always accompanied me, 
also informed them, that it was a common thing 
for me to wander about the country in search of 
plants, but that I was perfectly harmless, and 
would take care that they should not get into any 
trouble on my account. This gave them some 
confidence, and as the wind and tide were both in 
our favour, we were soon a considerable distance 
away from Shanghae. As I knew pretty well in 
what direction Soo-chow lay, I took my course 
by a pocket compass which I always carried with 
me. After getting twenty or thirty miles from 
Shanghae, I judged it prudent to break the subject 
of my wishes to my companions. First of all, I 
took my servant aside; he was a most active fel- 
low, and capable of persuading the others to do 
any thing he liked. “ Now,” said I to him, “I 
want to visit Soo-chow, and if you will persuade 
the boatmen to go on there, I will make you a 
present of five dollars when we return; besides, 
you may tell the men that I shall double the 
amount of the hire which I have already promised 
them.” Upon this a long conference ensued, the 
result of which was that they determined to accept 
my offer, 
I was, of course, travelling in the Chinese cos- 
tume; my head was shaved, I had a splendid wig 
