352 VOYAGE OP THE POTOMAC. [May, 
far the finest looking part of the town ; they face and extend 
along the river the distance of six or eight hundred yards. Each 
merchant lives in his own factory. The English East India 
Company occupy an extensive establishment : the hongs, or build- 
ings containing the teas, are extensive, and face along the river, 
and the entrance to them is secured by strong iron gates. The 
houses of the Chinese are generally meanly built, of cedar and 
camphire timber. 
The wall of Canton is low, of mud and stone construction. 
To strangers it is the boundary, " Thus far shaltrthou come, and 
no farther." At one time our inquisitive party passed a short 
distance within, but were instantly stopped by the guards, and the 
multitude all shouted as if something were wrong. Canton within 
was, to all appearance, just what Canton was without. ' The 
foreign residents have, on several occasions, been a short distance 
within the gates. To do this, however, requires some resolution, 
and numbers united, and has generally been done when some 
representation had to be made to the vice-king, which the Hong 
merchants had refused to present ; the grievance to be redressed 
being against their interest. Under these circumstances, the 
communication to be presented is prepared with the utmost se-*- 
crecy, and the hour of entry fixed ; when some dozen or twenty 
meet, and with clubs in their hands, move directly for the gate, 
pushing over and knocking down every thing which comes in their 
way. They then boldly enter the gate, the guard protesting to 
the contrary notwithstanding. A tremendous tumult is now 
created; and every Chinese presents himself as a barrier to their 
progress. The party then come to a stand, their object being 
attained ; for the authorities hearing that strangers are within 
the walls, send a messenger to demand the cause, when they pre-- 
sent their memorial, certain of its reaching the proper hands. 
Having thus, by violence and real bravado, effected the object of 
their visit, they retire from v\(ithin the wall, and immediately the 
tumult ceases. On several occasions they have been obliged to 
resort to this method, which was always successful without a 
serious accident. 
We have stated that the police without the walls is most rigidly 
kept up ; of its character within we know nothing. The man- 
darins, holding office from government, have the power of instant 
