STREET BEGGARS. 
Chap. XX. 
ness, I soon got into the good graces of the 
gentlemen by whom I was accompanied ; and, as 
we discussed the merits of the different plants, the 
fears which had taken possession of their minds at 
first entirely disappeared. My knowledge of the 
Chinese names of the different shrubs and trees, 
which a long residence in the country had enabled 
me to acquire, was most useful here, as it had often 
been in other places. And as we talked of the 
beauties of the “ Mo-le-hwa,” the “Cha-hwa,” or 
the “ Tu-hwa,” * I evidently rose many degrees in 
their estimation, and was looked upon as a being 
not so very barbarous after all. After drinking 
sundry Gups of tea, and getting the names of other 
places where plants were cultivated, I expressed 
my thanks and took my leave. 
The beggars of Tien-tsin are rather prominent 
objects. Here, as in the southern towns, they 
appear to have a kind of organization, having a 
chief, or “ king of the beggars,” who rules over 
them and directs their proceedings. They are 
most tyrannical in their conduct towards the more 
respectable inhabitants of the town, particularly 
the shopkeepers, whose business obliges them to 
have their doors always open. These beggars will 
assemble in companies, take possession of the 
door, heat the counter with stones, sticks, or what- 
ever they may have in their hands, and howl for 
alms. It is an amusing sight to see the poor 
