16 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. II. 
strong gale of wind, which we rode out in a deep bay for 
three days, we at last reached the opium station at Namoa. 
Namoa is the name of a small island about half way 
between Hong-kong and Amoy, and is well known as 
one of the stations where the contraband trade in opium 
is carried on between foreign vessels and the Chinese 
smugglers. At this time I was fresh from England, and 
full of all the notions which we form there of the 
sacredness of the Chinese empire. I then thought that, 
although I might perhaps get a view of the Celestial 
country, no barbarian feet would be allowed to pollute 
the sacred soil. Grea* was my surprise and pleasure 
when I found the captains of vessels wandering about 
all over the island unmolested. They had made roads 
to a considerable extent, and had built a cottage as 
a sort of smoking-lodge w^hen they landed in the 
evenings for recreation. They had also erected stables, 
and had small Chinese ponies for riding all over the island ; 
in fact, they seemed quite the lords of the soil, and were 
not subjected to the least annoyance from the natives. 
Hundreds of Chinamen gather round this spot, where 
they have erected huts and a bazaar, or market, for 
supplying the shipping, and, what appears not a little 
strange to European eyes, whenever the ships move to 
any other anchorage in the vicinity, the whole of the 
inhabitants, houses, market, and all, move along with 
them, so easily do these individuals change about from 
one place to another. One of the captains informed me 
that it was in contemplation to leave that particular spot 
shortly, and that, if I happened to visit it a day or two 
after this event, all the motley groups would be gone. 
