Chap. XIV. 



MY VISITORS. 



245 



venience through my servant informing them that I 

 was a mandarin from Tartary. Sometimes, when I 

 was in my room, the country people who were passing, 

 and who had just laid down their burdens to take a 

 cup of tea, expressed great anxiety to see a traveller 

 who had come so far. On several occasions some of 

 them walked up stairs without any ceremony. I 

 believe I always received them with the utmost po- 

 liteness and sustained my character tolerably well. 

 On one occasion, however, I nearly lost my gravity, 

 An old priest, apparently in his second childhood, 

 came in to see me, and the moment he entered my 

 room he fell upon his knees and kow-towed or pros- 

 trated himself several times before me in the most 

 abject manner. I raised him gently from this humi- 

 liating posture, and intimated that I did not wish to 

 be so highly honoured. Another priest came and 

 expressed a desire for me to go and visit his temple, 

 which was on an adjoining hill, and which he told 

 me had been honoured with a visit from a former 

 emperor. 



I remained two days under the roof of the hospi- 

 table Taouist, and saw a great part of the Woo-e hills 

 and their productions. On the evening of the second 

 day, having entered into a fresh agreement with my 

 chairbearers and coolies, I intimated to the old priest 

 that I intended to proceed on my journey early next 

 morning. He kindly pressed me to stay a little 

 longer, but, when he saw I was in earnest, he went 

 out to his tea plantations and brought me some young 

 plants which he begged me to accept. I felt highly 



