ClIAP. XI. 
ADVENTURE WITH MY PONY. 
183 
all anxious to get a glimpse of my features and dress. 
Their behaviour on the whole, however, was civil and 
respectful, and the only inconvenience I had to com- 
plain of was the pressure of the crowd. For a few of 
the copper coin of the country, a boy had promised to 
take me to a shop where I could purchase something for 
the pony, and we wended our way through the crowd, 
which was every moment becoming more dense, to- 
wards, as I supposed, a com or hay shop. At last, to 
my surprise, he came to a halt in front of an eating- 
house, and my guide came and asked me for money to 
go in and buy some boiled rice. " But I want a feed for 
the pony," said I. " Very well, give me the money, 
and I will fetch you a basin of boiled rice for him.'' 
" You had better bring him a pair of chopsticks also,'' 
said I, as I put the money into his hand. The idea of 
a pony eating with chopsticks delighted the crowd, and 
put them into high good humour : during my travels in 
the interior I often found the benefit of having a joke 
with the natives. 
My pony seemed to enjoy the meal which was set 
before him, and I too had some rice from the same pot. 
I then proceeded on foot to examine the nearest hill, 
and soon came to the conclusion that it would be ad- 
vantageous for me to be some days in the vicinity of this 
place. As I could not trust the natives with the pony, 
which belonged to the head mandarin in Shanghae, I 
determined to take him home again myself, and hire a 
boat, with which I could return by any of the numerous 
canals which branch all over the country, and stay as 
long as I pleased. I reached Shanghae late on the 
