Chap. III. 
ATTACK AND ROBBERY. 
89 
quickly round, and saw the thief running off with a letter 
which he had abstracted. As soon as he saw he was 
discovered, he threw it on the ground and made off ; 
but when I put my hand into my pocket I found that I 
had lost several things of more value. This incident 
stopped my progress, and made me look about for my 
servant, whom I saw at some distance attacked by about 
eight or ten of the fellows. They had surrounded him, 
presenting their knives, and threatening to stab him if 
he offered the least resistance, at the same time endea- 
vouring to rob and strip him of everything of the 
slightest value, and my poor plants collected with so 
much care were flying about in all directions. I felt that 
we were in a dangerous situation, and, instantly leaving 
my pickpockets, setoff to his assistance as fast as I could. 
When the Chinamen saw me coming, they all took to 
their heels and left him, making off towards their com- 
panions, who were looking on from a distance. My 
servant was pale with fright when I reached him, and 
very much excited ; nor did he fail to remind me of all 
he had said the day before. I felt there was no denying 
we were in dangerous company, and that the only thing 
to be done was to get out of it as soon as we could. 
Accordingly I made straight for the village where we 
had left the boat, and my servant took good care to 
follow close to my heels. As we approached the landing- 
place the boatman came to meet us in high spirits, saying 
he had expected us long ago, and was fearful that the 
Chinchew men had either robbed or murdered us. It 
was now ebb tide, and there was about half a mile of 
bare sand to cross, with the surf breaking furiously 
