Jhap. IV. 



WANG'S ADVICE. 



81 



fine evergreen Berberis, belonging to the section of 

 Mahonias, and having of course pinnated leaves. 

 Each leaflet was as large as the leaf of an English 

 holly, spiny, and of a fine dark, shining green colour. 

 The shrub was about eight feet high, much branched, 

 and far surpassed in beauty all the other known 

 species of Mahonia. It had but one fault, and that 

 was, that it was too large to move and bring away. 

 I secured a leaf, however, and marked the spot 

 where it grew, in order to secure some cuttings of it 

 on my return from the interior. 



I had been greatly annoyed at the cowardice and 

 fear of Wang. He had still the most serious appre- 

 hensions for his safety, as his enemy, the boatman, 

 continued to threaten him. I tried to laugh at him 

 and convince him that the boatman would do him no 

 harm, but it was of no use. At last he came to me, 

 and explained a plan which he had been concocting, 

 and which he proposed putting into execution next 

 day. It was simply this : — he and I were to leave 

 the boat ostensibly to walk in the country as usual, 

 but with the intention of not returning to it. I 

 asked him what was to be done with our beds and 

 luggage, and what he proposed doing with the other 

 man. He replied that all must be left behind ; that 

 if he attempted to leave the boat openly, measures 

 would be taken to stop him ; and that, as the coolie 

 could not be trusted, he must be left also. He did 

 not intend even to pay what was due upon our passage 

 money ! Such was the plan which, after days and 

 nights of deep thought, as he told me, he had at last 



G 



