298 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA, Chap. XVIII. 
tution ; and the fever, which was probably kept off for 
a certain time by bodily exertion, now seized me, and 
compelled me to take to my cot, where I lay for a num- 
ber of days insensible at intervals. At times, when 
consciousness returned, I certainly thought that my 
travels were drawing to a close, and that my grave would 
be a lonely one on the banks of the Min. It seemed 
hard for me to die in a land of strangers,, without a 
friend or countryman to close my eyes, or follow me to 
my last resting-place. 
The wind having been fair for several days, and the 
weather appearing settled, the captain of the junk came 
down to the place where I lay, and told me they in- 
tended to sail on the following morning. He again 
inquired if I had my gun and pistols in proper order and 
plenty of powder and ball. Still imagining that they 
were exaggerating the dangers of the voyage, I laughed 
and said, " Do not be afraid ; I have everything in order, 
and I will undertake to beat off any pirates who may 
attack us ; nevertheless I clearly saw that both cap- 
tain and sailors were really uneasy about the voyage, and 
would have been very glad of another gale to afford a 
pretext for deferring it a little longer. They had, how- 
ever, no further excuse for delay, and it was settled that 
the whole fleet should sail early the next day. 
The Chinese sailor never goes to sea without first 
presenting an offering to the gods, to propitiate them, in 
order that the voyage may be a speedy and successful 
one. Accordingly, on this day the cabin of our junk 
was set in order, and the tables covered with dishes of 
pork, mutton, fruits, and vegetables. Candles and incense 
