ClIAP. III. 
WANG'S ADVICE. 
61 
like the garden, in a ruinous condition. The funereal 
cypress which I had seen in the distance stood in the 
midst of the garden, and was covered with ripe seeds, 
which increased the collection I had formerly obtained. 
Having taken a survey of the place, we were making 
our way out, when an extraordinary plant, growing in a 
secluded part of the garden, met my eye. When I got 
near it I found that it was a very fine evergreen ber- 
berry. Each leaflet was as large as the leaf of an Eng- 
lish holly, spiny, and of a fine dark shining green colour. 
The shrub was about eight feet high, much branched, 
and far surpassed in beauty all the other known species 
of Mahonia. It had but one fault, and that was, that it 
Avas too large to move and bring away. I secured a leaf, 
however, and marked the spot where it grew, in order to 
secure some cuttings of it on my return from the interior. 
I had been greatly annoyed at the cowardice and fear 
of Wang. He had still the most serious apprehensions 
for his safety, as his enemy, the boatman, continued to 
threaten him. I tried to laugh at him and convince 
him that the boatman would do him no harm, but it 
was of no use. At last he came to me, and explained a 
plan which he had been concocting, and which he pro- 
posed putting into execution next day. It was simply 
this : — he and I were to leave the boat ostensibly to 
walk in the country as usual, but with the intention of 
not returning to it. I asked him what was to be done 
with our beds and luggage, and what he proposed doing 
■with the other man. He replied that all must be left 
behind ; that, if he attempted to leave the boat openly, 
measures would be taken to stop him ; and that, as the 
