162 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. IX. 



passing many of the boats ahead of him, and at last 

 got as far as mine. As we had been waiting for 

 some time, I did not like the idea of this man 

 getting past us, but, not wishing to have any dis- 

 turbance, I determined not to interfere between him 

 and my boatmen. My servant, however, who was a 

 spirited and powerful man, had evidently made up 

 his mind upon the subject, and was determined that 

 the fellow should not pass us. When he came up 

 he began pushing our boat aside as he had done the 

 others, and in a blustering manner desired us to 

 allow him to get on, as he was in a great hurry. 

 " You cannot pass this boat," said one of our crew, 

 and at the same time pushed the bow of our boat 

 against the bank of the canal so as to shut up the 

 passage. "Oh, but I will," replied he, and, notwith- 

 standing the angry remonstrances of our boat's crew, 

 continued pushing us aside, and endeavouring to get 

 past. Sing-Hoo, for that was my servant's name, now 

 went out, and in an angry manner asked the fellow 

 what he meant. " Do you know," said he, " that 

 there is a mandarin in this boat ? you had better take 

 care what you are about." " I don't care for man- 

 darins," said the man ; " I must get on." " Oh, very 

 well," replied Hoo, "we shall see;" and he walked 

 into the boat. Taking the small triangular flag 

 already noticed, he walked quietly out and fastened 

 it to the mast of our boat. " There," said he to the 

 other, " will you pass now ?" Greatly to my astonish- 

 ment our blustering friend became all at once as 

 meek as a lamb, stammered out some excuses for his 



