Chap. VII. 
CUNNING OF THE CHINESE. 
109 
rose-coloured or white : but it was always asserted, 
although not believed, that in some parts of China, 
purple, blue, and yellow varieties were produced, although 
these were never brought to Canton for sale. It was for 
these that I made the most particular inquiries, and this 
painter not only affirmed he had seen them, but also 
offered, for a small sum, to make me drawings from 
memory of all the different kinds. I employed him at 
once, and when he had finished the drawings I took 
them with me to Shanghae. A nurseryman who had a 
flower- shop in the town, to whom I showed these 
drawings, promised at once to procure living plants for 
me, but said they would be very expensive, as he would 
have to send to Soo-chow^, a distance of nearly one 
hundred miles, for they were not to be procured in the 
vicinity of Shanghae, and a man would be absent at 
least eight days. I was, of Course, glad to get them 
upon any terms, and gave the man the price he asked, 
which, after all, was not much out of the way, if they 
were to be brought a hundred miles. At the specified 
time the Moutans arrived, and proved most valuable 
kinds, which, in England, would have brought a very 
high sum. Amongst them there were lilacs and purples; 
some nearly black ; and one which the Chinese called 
'^tlie yelloWj' which, however, was only w^hite with a 
slight tinge of yellow near the centre of the petals. 
Altogether the collection was a valuable one, and I was 
highly satisfied with my bargain. Great was my surprise 
when I afterwards found that these plants were brought 
a distance of not more than six miles from the walls of 
Shanghae, and that the celebrated town of Soo-chow 
