276 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XVIII. 
duced to embark for California only a short time before, 
and emigration was carried on most extensively both at 
Amoy and Canton. But I wanted men from districts 
far inland, who were well acquainted with the process 
of preparing the teas. 
In order that I might accomplish this in a satisfac- 
tory manner, Mr. Beale kindly lent me his aid. His 
Compradore, who was a man highly respected by the 
Chinese and well known, undertook to conduct the 
negotiations. In the mean time I left Shanghae for the 
tea-districts about Ning-po, in order to make arrange- 
ments for another supply of seeds and young plants from 
that country. 
In the end of June the weather, as usual, became 
excessively hot, and it was dangerous to be out in the 
sun, more particularly in an inland district. I deter- 
mined, therefore, to leave the old monastery where I 
was staying, and take up my quarters on some of the 
islands in the Chusan archipelago. 
I was anxious to see the island of Chusan, which we 
had held for some years after the war, but which is now 
once more in the possession of the Chinese. I found it 
a bustling place, and apparently greatly improved. The 
fine harbour was full of junks, some bound for the south, 
others for the north, and all seemed to make Chusan a 
kind of starting-point. A large town had been built 
along the shore, and it was diflficult to find out the old 
houses in which the English lived when the island was 
in possession of the Queen's troops. 
The large hospital, built by the English, was still 
