288 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XVII. 
being inveterate in their hatred of foreigners, and full of 
conceit as to their own importance and power. Several 
very serious disturbances have taken place at the port 
since it was opened to the British. 
After paying our visit to the English Consul we 
returned to the suburbs to look out for a house where 
we could put up during our stay. When we got back to 
the river we found all our luggage and servants already 
safely lodged in the house of a person who had been 
ordered by the mandarins to lodge us and look after us. 
We were glad to get in-doors from the insulting crowd, 
and were consequently not very particular as to quarters. 
We soon found, however, that we were very strictly 
watched, and that we could not move anywhere without 
the fact being communicated to the mandarins. 
The valley of the Min was still flooded in many parts, 
and travelling over it was a very serious matter. One 
morning I started for a place at a considerable distance 
in the country, accompanied by a guide and a coolie. I 
took the eoolie that he might carry me over those low 
flats which were known to be still flooded. We got on 
pretty well for some time ; but the tide beginning to 
rise, I soon found that I must either retrace my steps or 
make up my mind to disregard the water, as the whole 
of the paths in our route were flooded. Unwilling to 
return, I went on, often wading up to my middle ; the 
same thing occurred during several successive days, and 
this under a burning sun, with a temperature of at least 
95- Fahr. in the shade. Few constitutions could stand 
this with impunity ; and I suffered severely for it after- 
wards. 
