190 
BANKS OF THE RIVER. 
neglect of the common offices of hospitality was in the highest degree 
irritating. 
We went on board on the evening of the 21st, intending to sail 
at an early hour the next morning. 
On the morning of the 22d, some time after the Legate had got 
under weigh, and when the boats of the Embassy were preparing 
to follow him, it was ascertained that many of them, especially those 
of the guard and band, had received no provisions. The commissioners 
becoming acquainted with this circumstance, peremptorily ordered 
their boatmen to anchor. His Excellency sent word to the necessary 
authorities that he would not again move till he received information 
from each boat that it was properly supplied, but would then give the 
signal for departure. This decision brought the Chinese to a due 
sense of propriety. They rapidly sent down every thing that was 
required, but it was two in the afternoon before they had provisioned 
all the boats. The Ambassador then ordered his boatmen to weigh, 
and was followed by the whole fleet. 
Many of the boatmen on this occasion, opposed in a determined 
manner the order for halting, by persisting to pole along their 
boats, but were brought to obedience by a demonstration of personal 
opposition. 
The extreme shallowness of the river prevented our making much 
progress during the first two days after leaving Nang-hiung-foo ; but 
the forms and structure of the mountains between which we were 
passing, rendered the voyage very interesting. During the 22d, they 
were at too great a distance to admit any conjecture respecting their 
composition during our passage, or of a visit to them during the 
short continuance of day-light after the anchoring of the boats in the 
evening. « 
During our second day’s progress, the hills which formed the banks 
of the river exhibited a breccial formation at their base, covered 
with beds of ferruginous clay, giving to the soil, through a great 
extent of country, a remarkable redness. Bricks were making of this, 
in kilns spread over its surface, which came from the furnace of a 
bluish colour. I have found the same effect to be produced on small 
