120 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. VII. 



which I opened some years ago, is now commonly 

 used by foreigners travelling between the two northern 

 ports, and, although not provided for in the " treaty," 

 is not objected to by the Chinese authorities. The 

 consuls of different nations and their families, mer- 

 chants, and missionaries, all avail themselves of it; 

 and when we consider the number of foreigners in 

 Shanghae, an outlet such as this seems absolutely 

 necessary. All acknowledge the powerful influence 

 of change of air in cases of fever, and I have no doubt 

 that the lives of some have been saved by being able 

 to get down quickly to the islands in the Chusan 

 archipelago. But had there been no route via 

 Chapoo, this would oftentimes have been very diffi- 

 cult, as the only other way is by sea. While I 

 mention this to show the folly of the treaty we made 

 with the Chinese — a treaty, by-the-by, which is ob- 

 served neither by the Chinese nor by ourselves — it 

 also shows how much may be done by quietly and 

 peaceably breaking down those barriers which have 

 been erected by prejudice and ignorance. 



The bay of Chapoo abounds with pirates, and 

 unless one's boat is well armed the passage across is 

 rather dangerous. It was here poor Mr. Lowrie, the 

 American missionary, was murdered in 1845 or 1846. 

 He was a man of great promise, and was much re- 

 gretted. My boat was well armed, and having more- 

 over two Lascars on board, I had little to fear. We 

 crossed the bay in safety. I then engaged a canal boat, 

 and jogged quietly onwards to Shanghae, which place 

 we reached without any adventure worth recording. 



