Chap. III. FERRY-BOAT AND LADIES. 57 
will, volunteered to remain with me and my two servants. 
We sat down on the green grass, and had an excellent 
view of the whole proceedings. The Chinese never 
seemed to tire, and would have remained there all day ; but 
as our boat would pass up the other branch of the river, 
it was necessary for us to get to it. We therefore crossed 
the bridge, and passed through the centre of the toAvn. 
No one seemed to have the slightest idea that I was a 
foreigner ; indeed, the poor old dwarf attracted far more 
attention than any of us. I did not remark anything of 
interest in this town, except some large tea-hongs and 
carpenters' shops, where tea-chests were being made. 
When we had passed through this place and reached 
the other branch of the river, we entered a ferry-boat, 
and crossed over to the other side. Amongst the ferry- 
boat passengers were two very pretty and handsomely 
dressed young ladies, with whom I was greatly amused. 
When they came into the boat they seated themselves 
quietly by my side, and began chatting to each other in 
high spirits. I could not help contrasting their conduct 
with that of any of their countr3rwomen at the five ports 
where foreigners are permitted to trade. Respectably 
dressed females always fly from foreigners as they would 
do from a wild and ferocious animal. Had these pretty 
damsels known that a " barbarian" was seated at their 
side, how astonished and frightened they would have 
been ! 
About evening, just before dark, the boat arrived and 
lay abreast of the town during the night. All the men 
now applied for leave to go on shore to see the play. 
Some of them appeared very anxious that I should go 
d3 
