40 



TEA DISTEICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. II. 



Hong-le, but what a Hong-le was, was beyond my 

 comprehension. 



To carry out my own principles and trust to cir- 

 cumstances seemed to be the only way of proceeding, 

 and I gave myself very little uneasiness about the 

 result. At length I heard the men say that here was 

 the Hong-le, and, as I was about to look and see 

 what this might be, the chair was set down, and it 

 was intimated to me that we had reached the end of 

 the journey. Greatly to my surprise and pleasure I 

 now found that this Hong-le was a quiet and com- 

 fortable Chinese inn, which was frequented by pas- 

 sengers from all parts of the country. Getting out 

 of my chair, I walked quietly up to the farther end 

 of the large hall, and began to look amongst a number 

 of packages which were heaped up there for my own 

 luggage. I had seen nothing of either that or my 

 servants since I left the former inn. It had arrived, 

 however, quite safely, having been sent on by a 

 coolie before me, and in a few minutes my two men 

 also made their appearance. 



We now informed the innkeeper that we wanted 

 to go up the river to Hwuy-chow, and made inquiries 

 regarding a boat. We soon found that it was part 

 of his trade to give "chops," or to "secure" boat- 

 men. Everything is done upon this plan in China. 

 When, a servant is engaged, or a boat hired, it is 

 always necessary for the said servant or boatman to 

 produce some respectable householder, who for a 

 certain sum becomes bound for him in a written 

 "chop" or agreement. This "chop" is handed over 



