VISIT OF MR. MORRISON TO THE LEGATE. 
353 
“ Europeans and Chinese had various opinions respecting the reception of 
the Embassy. Some of the first, who had means of knowing a little of the 
temper of the court, affirmed that the embassy would not be allowed to land ; 
and Chinese of respectable standing in society, were persuaded that it 
would certainly not be received by the way of Teendsin, but would be re- 
quired to go by the way of Canton ; and if it did go so far as Teen-tsin, it 
would have to return and land at Canton.” 
Page 69 . — Visit of Mr. Morrison to the Legate , on his Arrival at Ta-koo. 
The following account by Mr. Morrison, of his reception by the Legate, 
being an illustration of national manners, and of the light in which the 
Chinese ministers held some of the officers of the Embassy, 1 have thought 
its insertion in this place would be acceptable to my readers : — 
“ The passage into the Pei-ho is exceedingly shallow ; in some places not 
more than two feet. Ta-koo, a poor village, is situated a mile or two from 
the entrance. In a temple at this place, the Legate had taken up his abode. 
It rained when we reached the beach, and we had to wait till we were an- 
nounced. The officer with us was civil, in endeavouring to keep us from 
the rain. In a short time carriages, or covered single-horse carts, were 
brought to the beach ; we got into them, and drove off, about a quarter of a 
mile, through a very dirty road, to the temple ; all around was a flat, marshy, 
unproductive, gloomy region. We entered an inner room in the temple, and 
were required to send in our names, and what we were, to the still inner 
apartment where the Legate was. On being ushered in, we stepped over 
the threshold, walked up, and made our bow. 
“ On looking round there were no chairs to receive us, but without- 
side the threshold were placed three chairs. We went to conciliate, and 
therefore, though we felt the haughty reception intended, took no notice of 
it, but sat down.* 
* “ In Chinese apartments, there is placed at the head of the room, a large broad couch, called 
a kang. In the middle of it stands a table, about eighteen inches high, intended to rest the arm 
on, or to place tea on. On each side of this two persons sit. The left is the place of honour. 
From the ends of the couch, at right angles, are placed two rows of chairs ; the rank diminishes as 
they recede from the couch. The first in the left side-row is the highest place. To prevent 
persons taking a place they do not wish them, they sometimes remove the chairs, as was the 
case in the present instance. There were no chairs at the head of the right-hand row, but three 
placed, as I have already observed, without-side the threshold.” 
