Chap. VI. ATTEMPT TO " SQUEEZE " WANG. 101 



took back to Shanghae. These are now safely in 

 England. 



I spent a week in the neighbourhood of Sung-lo, 

 and then began to think of returning eastward with 

 the collections I had made. My coolie was now 

 giving Wang no little annoyance, in the hope of 

 extorting money from him. The coolie had observed 

 how he had been frightened by the boatmen, and 

 doubtless thought that he too might make something 

 out of his timidity. But Wang was now in his 

 father's house, and consequently more bold. He 

 refused to be " squeezed " to the amount of four 

 dollars — a sum which the other fellow demanded. 

 The latter, after a great deal of blustering language, 

 left the house with the threat of bringing some 

 countrymen of his own to force compliance with his 

 demands. He returned, however, in the course of 

 an hour, without any companions, and, the subject 

 having been mentioned to me in the mean time, I 

 sent for him, and threatened to punish him by with- 

 holding his wages if I heard any more of the matter. 

 After this he became more quiet, and I believe the 

 matter was finally arranged by his accepting a loan ! 



In the mean time old Mr. Wang, in whose house 

 we were staying, having occasion to go down to 

 Tun-che on business, was desired by me to engage a 

 boat to take us down the river again as far as a 

 place named Nechow. He returned in due time, 

 and brought a " chop " which had been entered into 

 with the boatmen. I could not read the Chinese 

 language, and therefore had to get Wang to read the 



