ClIAP. VIII. 
ADVENTURE AMONG THE CHINESE. 
129 
ill-looking fellows who seemed to be eyeing me narrowly 
as I proceeded. I now came to a little hill which 
seemed to be used as a cemetery : it was enclosed, but 
the door which led to it was wide open, and the place 
appeared to be quite public. In order to have a more 
extended view of the country, I walked in and began to 
ascend the hill. I had only proceeded about half way 
up, when a number of Chinamen who had followed me 
in began to crowd round me, asking for comeshaws;''' 
and becoming every moment more numerous and urgent. 
I tried what civility would do with them for a little 
while, but by the time I reached the top of the hill I 
clearly perceived that I was in a trap, out of which it 
would be a difficult matter to extricate myself 
Up to this time, however, no one had attempted to 
lay hands upon me. Taking a cursory view of the sur- 
rounding country, I began to devise in my mind the 
best mode of getting rid of my troublesome companions. 
There seemed no other way than putting a bold face 
on the matter, and retracing my steps to Canton. « You 
more better come down this way,^' said a fellow to me in 
broken English, pointing to a ravine on the opposite 
side of the hill. My suspicions, however, were now 
roused, and I saw at once the object of my adviser, 
which was to get me into some place out of sight, wherj 
I should doubtless have been robbed of every article I 
had about my person, and probably stripped into the 
bargain. " No, no,^^ said I, " I have nothing to do down 
there,^' and began to retrace my steps down the hill. 
The Chinese now closed upon me, and seemed deter- 
* Presents. 
G 3 
