ClIAP. VI. 
BAY OF CHAPOO. 
95 
ledge the powerful influence of change of air in cases of 
fever, and I have no doubt that the lives of some have 
been saved by being able to get do\VQ quickly to the 
islands in the Chusan archipelago. But had there been 
no route via Chapoo, this would oftentimes have been 
very difficult, as the only other way is by sea. While 
I mention this to show the folly of the treaty we made 
with the Chinese — a treaty, by-the-by, which is observed 
neither by the Chinese nor by ourselves — it also shows 
how much may be done by quietly and peaceably break- 
ing do^vn those barriers which have been erected by 
prejudice and ignorance. 
The bay of Chapoo abounds with pirates, and unless 
one's boat is well armed the passage across is rather 
dangerous. It was here poor Mr. Lowrie, the American 
missionary, was murdered in 1845 or 1846. He was a 
man of great promise, and was much regretted. My 
boat was well armed, and, having moreover two Lascars 
on board, I had little to fear. We crossed the bay in 
safety. I then engaged a canal boat, and jogged quietly 
onwards to Shanghae, which place we reached without 
any adventure worth recording. 
It was now the middle of January, and the depth 
of winter in the north of China. The Chinese new year 
was approaching ; it fell on the 24th, and all the natives 
were busily employed in collecting their debts and 
arranging their books. It is considered a great disgrace 
to have outstanding debts at the beginning of the year. 
Merchants and shopkeepers will often make considerable 
sacrifices in order to raise money at this season, and 
hence foreigners generally consider this a good time to 
