ClIAP. IX. 
APPROACH TO YUK-SHAN. 
155 
I suppose, when they saw that I ate and drank just 
like the rest, they must have felt some little surprise, 
and had their original opinion strengthened, namely 
that after all I was only one of themselves. 
My chair-bearers having dined as well as myself, they 
sent a message by Sing-Hoo to say that they were ready 
to proceed. Making a slight bow to mine host, and a 
slighter one to the Canton gentlemen, in Chinese style, 
I got into my chair and went my way. As soon as I 
had left the house, Sing-Hoo, who was paying our bill, 
was closely questioned about me. According to his ac- 
count he had completely mystified them, by informing 
them, as he had done others before, that I came from 
some far country beyond the great wall, a statement 
which those who knew best would not have called in 
question. 
Our road was still crowded with coolies : indeed nearly 
the whole way across from Chang-shan to Yuk-shan they 
formed one unbroken line. Yuk-shan was the name of 
the town to which we were now bound. As we pro- 
ceeded we began to get more extensive views of the 
country. We had passed the line or ridge which divides 
the streams which flow to the eastward from those which 
flow westward. The country appeared to open up, and 
we were evidently approaching some river of consider- 
able size. At last a hill, richly wooded, came into view 
and was pointed out to me as that from which the town 
of Yuk-shan had taken its name, and which was situated 
in its vicinity. We reached the town about four o'clock 
in the afternoon, having travelled about thirty miles 
since the morning. 
