DISTRESS ON THE ROAD. 
101 
were present for any purpose, rather than that of attending on the 
Embassy. In short, a more disagreeable entertainment cannot be 
imagined. But all fared alike ; for in this instance, the Chinese made 
no distinction in the accommodation of the Ambassador and the 
lowest of his train. After the delay of about an hour, His Excel- 
lency readily yielded to the solicitation of the attendant Mandarins 
to hasten our departure for Pekin. These gentlemen, of whom 
Quang and Soo were the principal, urged Lord Amherst to de- 
part, with much anxiety of manner, alleging as an excuse for their 
importunity, that the Governor of Pekin was waiting his arrival at 
the gates of the city. 
When preparing to leave, I found that the sick had suffered much 
from the journey, and that their number had been increased by 
one of the band who had fallen ill on the route. For these, who 
were all suffering from acute disease, and liable to severe pain from 
slight motion, application was again made to the Chinese for 
comfortable litters, but without effect. The only relief that could 
be afforded to them was in large doses of opium, larger indeed 
than, under ordinary circumstances, it would have been prudent to 
administer, but which fortunately diminished their sensibility so 
much as to enable them to complete the remainder of the journey 
without severe suffering. 
The Ambassador having again taken possession of his carriage, 
the different persons of his suite went in search of their respective 
carts, but had the greatest difficulty in finding them. They had 
been removed from the neighbourhood of the shed in which we had 
supped, into a sort of stable yard, in its neighbourhood. Not being 
acquainted with this circumstance, the gentlemen in vain wandered 
about for some time in the dark, without receiving any assistance 
in their search from the numerous Chinese who surrounded them, 
and who only grinned on witnessing their dilemma. Accident at 
length relieved them from their embarrassment ; but few I believe 
re-possessed themselves of the same carts that had brought them 
thus far on their journey. 
