128 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. VIII. 
waiting for some time, I. did not like the idea of this man 
getting past us, but, not wishing to have any disturbance, 
I determined not to interfere between him and my boat- 
men. My servant, however, who was a spirited and 
powerful man, had evidently made up his mind upon 
the subject, and was determined that the fellow should 
not pass us. When he came up he began pushing our 
boat aside as he had done the others, and in a blustering 
manner desired us to allow him to get on, as he was in a 
great hurry. " You cannot pass this boat," said one of 
our crew, and at the same time pushed the bow of our 
boat against the bank of the canal so as to shut up the 
passage. " Oh, but I will," rephed he, and, notwith- 
standing the angry remonstrances of our boat's crew, 
continued pushing us aside, and endeavouring to get 
past. Sing-Hoo, for that was my servant's name, now 
went out, and in an angry manner asked the fellow what 
he meant. " Do you know,'' said he, " that there is a 
mandarin in this boat ? you had better take care what 
you are about.'' " I don't care for mandarins," said the 
man ; " I must get on." " Oh, very well," replied Hoo, 
" we shall see and he walked into the boat. Taking 
the small triangular flag already noticed, he walked 
quietly out and fastened it to the mast of our boat. 
" There," said he to the other, " will you pass now ?" 
Greatly to my astonishment our blustering friend became 
all at once as meek as a lamb, stammered out some 
excuses for his conduct, and sat quietly down on the 
stern of his boat to wait his turn like the rest, while the 
different boats' crews, who had witnessed the circum- 
stance, had a good laugh at his expense. 
