TA-KOO. 
73 
and cheers bade us farewell from every ship. On reaching the junk 
intended for our conveyance to the mouth of the Pei-ho, it was found 
very inadequate to the accommodation of the whole party, unless 
they stood exposed on its deck to a burning sun. A few, therefore, 
took refuge under the awning of the Ambassador’s barge, which was 
towed alongside. 
Having in this manner arrived within a short distance of the 
mouth of the Pei-ho, Capt. Cooke was despatched a-head in a 
small boat to announce our approach to the Legate. The Am- 
bassador and his train at the same time changed their situation 
from the junks to the boats of the squadron which had accompanied 
us ; and were now arranged, under the direction of Capt. Maxwell, 
into a picturesque order, in which they proceeded up the river. 
The entrance into China by the mouth of the Pei-ho is entirely 
destitute of interest. The shores are flat, barren, and marshy : 
a few reeds alone giving them an appearance of verdure. Some 
mud forts situated on the banks, saluted the Embassy repeatedly 
with three guns. A band of gaudy troops also met us at the 
mouth of the river, and having been passed, moved off to re- 
appear higher up. 
About an hour after leaving the junks, we arrived at Ta-koo, the 
first collection of huts that deserves the name of a village on the 
banks of the Pei-ho. It was here that the boats prepared for our 
reception were arranged along the right bank of the river ; each 
vessel carrying at the mast-head a flag, on which was inscribed, in 
large Chinese characters, Koong-Tsou, Tribute Bearers ! The Am- 
bassador’s yacht communicated with the shore by a bridge of bamboo 
and painted matting. The Legate paid his respects to His Excellency 
soon after our arrival, and expressed great anxiety that we should com- 
mence our voyage as soon as possible ; but as no part of our personal 
baggage had been landed, our departure was necessarily delayed till 
the next morning. He however immediately set out by land to 
prepare for our reception at Tien-sing. 
We found the banks of the river covered on our arrival with a 
L 
