72 
DISEMBARKATION OF THE EMBASSY. 
differed, however, from them in having a rope fastened to a ring in 
one of the flukes by which they could be drawn up with great ease. 
The men who navigate and probably live in these junks, subsist 
chiefly on millet rendered gelatinous by immersion in hot water. 
With this they eat a savoury preparation of vegetables cut into small 
stripes, and preserved in a kind of soy. At their meals each takes a 
basin of millet to himself, but the savoury dish is common to many. 
In eating they bring the basin close to the lips, and shovel its contents 
by means of their chop-sticks into their mouths till they are fully 
crammed ; then wedging in a morsel of the piquant vegetable, mas- 
ticate the whole together. Having finished their repast, they wash 
their mouth with the water in which the millet had been steeped. 
The visit of Chang and Yin led to the arrival, on the following 
day, of junks for the reception of the presents intended for the 
Emperor of China, and of the baggage of the Embassy. The 
greatest activity being immediately used in trans-shipping them, it 
was reported on the evening of the next day, that the whole of the 
presents, and a considerable portion of our stores were safely on board 
the Chinese vessels. Mr. Davis and Mr. Cooke visited the shore on 
the morning of the 6th of August, to ascertain whether the boats 
intended for our conveyance through the country were in readiness, 
and returned in the evening with the information that every thing 
was prepared for our reception. Junks came off at an early hour 
the next morning for the residue of our equipage, but were obliged 
by rough weather to make for the shore after receiving a part of it 
only. The whole of the 8th proved so stormy as to prevent all 
communication with the land. But the next morning being fine and 
calm, it was announced by nine o’clock that all our baggage had been 
embarked, and that junks were in readiness to convey us to the 
shore. These having received the servants, band, and guard, waited 
for His Excellency at a short distance from the ship. 
At 12 o’clock at noon of the 12th of August, Lord Amherst and 
the gentlemen of his suite left the Alceste in his barge. The yards 
of the squadron were manned on the occasion, and successive salutes 
