Chap. V. 
THE NEW BERBERIS. 
77 
the plant ; don't be afraid, I shall not touch it." For 
some time they refused to do even this, but through 
Wang's influence they were at last induced to consent, 
and led the way down to a small cottage -garden, com- 
pletely covered with weeds. There the beautiful shrub 
was growing apparently neglected and left to "bloom un- 
seen." It seemed very valuable in the uncle's estimation, 
and he would not part with it, although I tried hard to 
induce him to do so. It might be that he really valued 
its medicinal properties, but, as it must be common 
enough in that part of the country, he could easily have 
replaced it ; it was not unlikely, therefore, that he 
supposed I should offer some very large sum to induce 
him to part with it 
On the following day another relation of Wang's came^ 
to me in a secret manner, and informed me that he was 
acquainted with another place where the same plant was 
to be had, and that for a consideration he would go and 
fetch some of it for me. I engaged him at once, merely 
telling him that he must bring young plants with good 
roots, otherwise they would be entirely useless to me. 
This he faithfully promised to do, and he kept his 
word. In the course of the day he returned with 
three good plants, which he sold to me, and which I 
afterwards took back to Shanghae. These are now_ 
safely in England. 
I spent a week in the neighbourhood of Sung-lo, and 
then began to think of returning eastward with the 
collections I had made. My coolie was now giving 
Wang no little annoyance, in the hope of extorting money 
from him. The coolie had observed how he had been 
