160 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. IX. 



The man who had just returned from that country 

 expressed his willingness to accompany me, and as 

 he was well acquainted with the road I could not 

 have found a better guide. He showed me a small 

 triangular flag which he had in his possession, and 

 which he had obtained from a mandarin with whom 

 he formerly travelled to Peking, and told me that 

 with this in our hands no one would dare to interfere 

 with us. I confess I was rather sceptical as to the 

 power of this flag, but allowed him to have his own 

 way. 



Having hired a boat, we left Ning-po on the even- 

 ing of the 15th of May. The tide and wind being 

 both in our favour, we swept rapidly up the river, 

 passing in quick succession the British consulate and 

 the houses of the missionaries, which stand on the 

 river's banks. It was a dull and dreary evening, 

 and the rain began to fall heavily as the darkness 

 closed in around us. I felt rather low-spirited; I 

 could not conceal from my mind that the journey 

 I had undertaken was a long one, and perhaps full of 

 danger. My road lay through countries almost 

 unknown, and the guide I had with me was not fully 

 to be depended upon. But the die was cast, and, 

 committing myself to the care of Him who can pre- 

 serve us alike in all places, I resolved to encounter 

 the difficulties and dangers of the road with a good 

 heart. 



My servant now presented himself, and reminded 

 me that it was time to make a change in my " out- 

 ward man," and adopt the costume of the country. 



