126 WANDERINGS IN CHINA. Chap. VIII. 
and determined to start from Ning-po, where the people 
are not so greatly prejudiced against foreigners as 
they are farther to the south, about Foo-chow and 
Canton. 
The man who had just returned from that country 
expressed his willingness to accompany me, and as he 
was well acquainted with the road I could not have 
found a better guide. He showed me a small triangular 
flag which he had in his possession, and which he had 
obtained from a mandarin with whom he formerly 
travelled to Peking, and told me that with this in our 
hands no one would dare to interfere with us. I confess 
I was rather sceptical as to the power of this flag, but 
allowed him to have his own way. 
Having hired a boat, we left Ning-po on the evening 
of the 15th of May. The tide and wind being both in 
our favour, we swept rapidly up the river, passing in 
quick succession the British consulate and the houses of 
the missionaries, which stand on the river's banks. It 
was a dull and dreary evening, and the rain began to 
fall heavily as the darkness closed in around us. I felt 
rather low-spirited ; I could not conceal from my mind 
that the journey I had undertaken was a long one, and 
perhaps full of danger. My road lay through countries 
almost unknown, and the guide I had with me was not 
fully to be depended upon. But the die was cast, and, 
committing myself to the care of Him who can preserve 
us alike in all places, I resolved to encounter the difl&- 
culties and dangers of the road with a good heart. 
My servant now presented himself, and reminded me 
that it was time to make a change in my outward 
