68 



TEA D1STKICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. IV. 



Things were in this very unsatisfactory state when we 

 reached the city of Wae-ping. 



It was about eight o'clock in the evening, and 

 quite dark, when we moored our boat close under the 

 city walls. The boatmen went on shore, as they did 

 every evening when we happened to stop near a 

 town. One or two of their number, who had been 

 left to take care of the boat, tired with the labours of 

 the day, lay down to sleep, and the greater part of 

 the passengers followed their example. I now ob- 

 served my two men in close conversation, but as 

 this was a matter of frequent occurrence I paid 

 little attention to the matter. Tired with my day's 

 rambles, I lay down upon my bed, and allowed my 

 thoughts to wander to far distant lands. 



My meditations were gradually merging into 

 dreams when I felt a hand touch me, and a voice, 

 which I knew to be Wang's, informed me that I 

 must not go to sleep. When I asked the reason, 

 he informed me that he had just discovered that the 

 boatmen had entered into a conspiracy against us, 

 and that we were all to be drowned that night in the 

 river. " They have now gone into the town to get 

 some of their friends to assist them," said he, " and 

 they are only waiting until they think we are fast 

 asleep." 



I scarcely knew what to think of the business. We 

 werenow about three hundred miles from either Shang- 

 hae or Ning-po, the night was very dark, and if the 

 threatened attempt should be made we had little chance 

 of receiving any assistance from others. But I could 



