Chap. VII. THE REBELS' HEAD-QUARTERS. 



123 



highest civil officer in the city. Here a scene of 

 a different kind, but scarcely less curious, was 

 presented to us. This place had been made the 

 head-quarters of the rebels, and we found the 

 doors strictly guarded by their men. The guards 

 allowed us to pass without question ; and, walking 

 up a straight path to the furthest end of the 

 buildings, we found a large hall filled with armed 

 men, engaged in arranging some matters con- 

 nected with their food and wages. A more black- 

 guard or unruly looking collection of human 

 beings I had never before seen. Some were 

 armed with short swords, others with muskets or 

 pistols, and a number with rusty-looking spears of 

 all forms and sizes. Here and there we observed 

 some busily engagd in grinding their swords, and 

 every now and then feeling their edges like a 

 butcher about to slay an animal for his stall. 

 The greater number were taking part in a hot 

 discussion which was then going on with their 

 leaders, all talking at the same time, and, appa- 

 rently, in the greatest disorder; but, as this is 

 Chinese custom, it gave us but little surprise or 

 concern. The uniform worn by this motley band 

 was most varied in its character ; but each man 

 wore a distinguishing badge of some kind, either 

 round his head, or as a sash round his body, or 

 on his breast. The Fokien bands had generally 

 a red band tied round the head ; while the Canton 

 men had a white one, said to be a badge of mourn- 

 ing for the Ming dynasty — their ancient kings. 



