CHAOU-CHOU-FOO. 
195 
cess, in its different stages, was witnessed by several gentlemen of the 
Embassy. A quantity of hepatic iron pyrites, in very small pieces, 
mixed with about an equal quantity of the coal in the same state, being 
formed into a heap, was covered with a coating of lime-plaster. In a 
short time great action took place in the mass, accompanied by the 
extrication of much heat and smoke, and was allowed to go on till it 
spontaneously ceased. The heap was then broken up and put into 
water, which was afterwards boiled till considerably reduced in quan- 
tity, and was then evaporated in shallow vessels. Very pure crystals 
of sulphate of iron were obtained at the close of the process. 
We reached Chaou-chou-foo at four o’clock in the afternoon of 
the 25th, and anchored on the left of the river : the city is on the 
right bank, and communicates with the left by a bridge of boats. 
Here again we were made sensible of our approach to Canton by 
being prohibited from entering the city. Two or three gentlemen, 
however, succeeded in reaching it, but found nothing peculiar in the 
style of its buildings. I also made an attempt, but was less fortunate 
than my companions. The morning after our arrival, seeing a num- 
ber of people passing over the bridge, I hoped, by mingling with 
them, to succeed in crossing the river, but found, on approaching 
the middle of the bridge, that the central boat had been with- 
drawn. In the hope that it would be replaced, I sat down on the 
side of the next, and was soon surrounded by a crowd delayed 
by the same circumstance, but who were not permitted to pass 
till they had driven me away by their usual importunate curi- 
osity. I now went to a Canton linguist who attended the Embassy, 
and requested him to procure me a boat, promising not to enter 
the city, but to confine my visit to a singularly shaped black rock 
in its vicinity. After a little hesitation he seemingly assented, and 
ordered a boat to receive me, but gave the boatmen some direc- 
tions in Chinese which I did not understand. I soon, however, 
discovered their import, for vdien the boatmen had taken me two 
or three hundred yards up the river, they endeavoured to land 
me on the same side that I had left. It being in vain to expos- 
c c 2 
