CllAP. XI. 
A CHINAWOMAN. 
179 
as we entered the house, " what a stormy day ; how 
high the wind is ! " Pooh, pooh ! said the old dame, 
" this is nothing ; you must not call this a high wind ; 
it is plain enough you know nothing about the wind 
amongst these mountains. Our houses are often un- 
roofed, and sometimes it is not possible for us to stand 
on the public road without support. You could not 
have brought that chair over the pass on a really 
windy day, I can tell you. Ah, you should see one 
of these gales, and you would not call this a high 
wind." 
Having drunk the tea which she had set before us, 
Sing-Hoo asked one of our men what ought to be paid 
in this part of the country. The man replied, " A cash 
each cup, of course ; tea is cheap here." The sum was 
thrown down upon the tray, and the old woman was 
called to receive it. When she came she refused to take 
anything, telling us that "her house was not a tea-shop ; 
that when it was one, — which was not likely though, — 
she would then receive our money." This was the first 
instance of a Chinese refusing money which had come 
under my observation. The old lady did not lose 
anything by it, however, for I bought some cakes and 
other things which were not below her dignity to sell, 
and we parted the best of friends. We had many a 
good joke and hearty laugh at her expense as we pur- 
sued our journey. 
The sky had been overcast during the morning, and, 
the wind having died away, the rain came down in 
torrents. We were obliged to take shelter in another 
