170 
GULF OF LIAO-TUNG. 
day the original ^varlike instinct still attaches to 
the Manchu Tartars, manifesting itself, I believe, 
as strongly as .ever. Military appointments are 
usually held in China by Tartars, while the more 
intellectual Chinese fill the higher offices of the 
State. In the late war with China, tlie ]\Ianchu 
cavalry charged again and again the British 
squadrons, but their undoubted valour was of no 
avail, as they were borne downwards and ridden 
over by the superior weight of our- horses, while 
the poor “ Braves ” endeavoured to keep possession 
of the forts. But what could crossbows avail 
against Armstrong guns ? 
Another portion of Manchuria visited by us be- 
sides the extensive coast-line alluded to, was that 
situated at the head of the Gulf of Liao-tung, 
a territory which is characterised by its level and 
unvaried appearance. The Gulf of Liao-tung had 
been veiy imj)erfectly surveyed, and we had several 
perilous adventures and hair-breadth escapes during 
our explorations of its shallow and treacherous 
waters. One long night the good ship bumped 
