Chap. XVII. 
BRIDGE OF FOO-CHOW-FOO. 
283 
to consist of one hundred arches. It is not an arched 
bridge at all ; but is nevertheless a wonderful structure, 
being about two thousand feet in length, and having 
fifty strong pillars of stone, with large slabs of granite 
reaching from the one to the other, and forming the top 
of the bridge. During the rains the river rushes through 
these divisions with great rapidity ; and as the bridge 
has evidently stood for many ages, it is a proof of the 
substantial manner in which it was originally built. 
Leaving the ship at the mouth of the Min, Mr. Shaw, 
Captain Freeman, and myself started in a native boat to 
go up to the city. When we were getting into the boat, 
our old friend the pilot, who by this time had become 
quite at home amongst us, came and begged us to give 
him a passage as far up as the first town we were to pass 
on our way. We inquired why he did not go back again 
to his fishing at the White Dog island. His reply was, 
" I should get robbed by pirates of all the money 
you have given me for pilotage. I must first make sure 
of it by depositing it in the hands of a friend of mine 
in the town ; after that is done I shall return to the 
island.'' 
We were nearly two days in getting up to the city, 
owing to the rapidity of the stream, caused by the late 
heavy rains. We landed near the bridge already no- 
ticed, and immediately inquired for the house of the 
English Consul, who, we were informed, lived in a 
temple situated within the city, and about three miles 
from the landing-place. As nearly the whole of the 
streets in the suburbs were under water at the time, in 
some parts to the depth of four feet, it was impossible to 
