78 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. V. 
frightened by the boatmen, and doubtless thought that 
he too might make something out of his timidity. But 
Wang was now in his father's house, and consequently 
more bold. He refused to be " squeezed'' to the amount 
of four dollars — a sum which the other fellow demanded. 
The latter, after a great deal of blustering language, left 
the house with the threat of bringing some countrymen 
of his own to force compliance with his demands. He 
returned, however, in the course of an hour, without any 
companions, and, the subject having been mentioned to 
me in the mean time, I sent for him, and threatened to 
punish him by withholding his wages if I heard any 
more of the matter. After this he became more quiet, 
and I believe the matter was finally arranged by his 
accepting a loan ! 
In the mean time old Mr. Wang, in whose house we 
were staying, having occasion to go down to Tun-che on 
business, was desired by me to engage a boat to take us 
down the river again as far as a place named Nechow. 
He returned in due time, and brought a "chop" which 
had been entered into with the boatmen. I could not 
read the Chinese language, and therefore had to get 
Wang to read the chop over to me and explain it, more 
particularly that part which specified the sum I was to 
pay. The chop stated where we were to be taken to ; 
the number of men we were to have in the boat ; the 
charges for good rice, which they were to supply three 
times a day, and the hire of the boat. With regard to 
the last item, Wang informed me that it stated I was to 
pay the sum of twenty-four dollars, part before we 
started, and the remainder at the end of the journey. 
