Chap. I. 
HANG-CHOW-FOO. 
19 
bandage removed from my eyes, I should have great 
difficulty in saying where I was. There are doubtless 
distinctions with which the "barbarian" eye is unac- 
quainted, but which would be plain enough to a 
Chinese. 
I observed in many parts of the city triumphal 
arches, monuments to great men, and gorgeous-looking 
Buddhist temples ; but although these buildings have a 
certain degree of interest about them, and many of 
them are curious, yet as works of art they are not to be 
compared with the buildings of the same class which 
one meets with at home. 
The shops in the main streets have their fronts 
entirely removed by day, so that the passenger may 
have an opportunity of seeing and of forming a good 
idea of the wares which are for sale. I observed many 
shops where gold and silver ornaments and valuable 
jade-stone were exposed for sale. Old curiosity shops 
were numerous, and contained articles of great value 
amongst the Chinese, such as ancient porcelain jars, 
bronzes, carved bamboo, jars cut out of the beautiful 
jade-stone, and a variety of other things of like de~ 
scription. I observed some large silk-shops as I passed 
along, and, judging from the number of people in the 
town who wear silk dresses, they must have a thriving 
trade. Everything, indeed, which met the eye, stamped 
Hang-chow-foo as a place of wealth and luxury. As 
usual in all the Chinese towns which I have visited, 
there were a vast number of tea and eating houses for 
the middle classes and the poor. They did not seem to 
lack customers, for they were all crowded with hundreds 
