268 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XVI. 
quantity of Japanese goods, which are brought annually 
to this place by the junks which trade with Japan. 
By the time I had examined all the chief objects of 
interest it was late in the afternoon, and I began to think 
of leaving the city, and taking the road for Shanghae. I 
had already taken measures by means of my servant to 
find the part of the canal from which the Shanghae 
boats started, and thither proceeded with the intention 
of engaging a boat. A numerous crowd had surrounded 
and accompanied me during the whole of the day ; but 
now that I was on the eve of taking my departure 
it was greatly augmented. Every street, lane, window 
and house-top was crowded with human beings ; all 
however, perfectly harmless and civil. When I reached 
the canal and attempted to speak with one of the boat- 
men, the crowd pressed after me in such numbers, that 
the boat, had I got on board, would probably have been 
swamped. The poor boatmen were so frightened, that 
no reward which I could hold out would induce them to 
give me a passage. They begged and prayed me not to 
enter their boats, as some accident would happen from 
the number of persons whom nothing could prevent from 
crowdiag in after me. 
I was now in a dilemma, and I scarcely knew how to 
get out of it. At last I determined, much against my 
inclination, to go to the mandarins. It is a bad plan to 
have anything to do with Chinese officials when it can 
be possibly avoided, but ia this case there was no help 
for it ; so, having inquired for the residence of the super- 
intendent of boats, I set off to call upon him, followed, 
of course, by an immense mob. As we were going to his 
