384 ENGAGE A PASSAGE IN A JUNK. [Cuar. XXI. 
CHAP. XXI. 
ENGAGE A PASSAGE IN A JUNK.—LEAVE THE DISTRICT OF THE 
MIN. —AN ATTACK OF FEVER. — RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES ON 
ARRIVE AT CHUSAN. — INGRATITUDE OF THE CREW.— MODE OF 
MAKING THEM KEEP THEIR WORD. — KINDNESS OF FOREIGN 
RESIDENTS AT SHANGHAE, — LARGE PEACHES, — COLLECTIONS 
CKED,— LEAVE THE NORTH OF CHINA.—SAIL FOR ENGLAND. 
— ARRIVAL IN THE THAMES. — CONCLUSION. 
At the time when I visited Foo-chow-foo, although 
it was open to the English as a place of trade and 
had a British Consul, it was little known in a mer- 
cantile point of view. The entrance to the river 
Min was described as extremely difficult and dan- 
gerous, and, consequently, few foreign vessels ven- 
tured to touch at this port. When, therefore, my 
botanical researches were completed, and I was ready 
to return north to Shanghae, I was obliged to 
apply for a passage in a Chinese junk, a whole fleet 
of which were to sail ina few days for Ningpo and 
Chapoo. Knowing the dislike and jealousy which 
most of the natives manifest towards foreigners, I 
had some doubt whether I should be able to induce 
them to take me as a passenger, and, in that event, 
I had determined to go down to the mouth of the 
