CHAP. IX - Journey from Tong-choo-foo to the Province of Canton.—Face of the Country, and its Productions.—Buildings and other Public Works.—Condition of the People.—State of Agriculture.—Population

Summary

ON the 8th of October we embarked, for the fecond time, on the Pei-ho in yachts, however, that were very different from thofe on which we had afcended the river, being much fmaller but broader in proportion to their length, and fo fhallow and flat-bottomed, that they required little depth of water; yet we found them fufficiently commodious. Of the neceffity of fuch a change in the accommodation yachts, on account of the low ftate of the river, we were fpeedily convinced, which, previous to our embarkation, had been by fome attributed to a different caufe. It was fuppofed that the men in office throughout the country, piqued at the refufal of the Embaffador to fubmit to their degrading ceremony, would not fail to retaliate the affront by depriving us of every little comfort and convenience, and by otherwife rendering the long journey before us extremely unpleafant. The character of the people at large juftified fuch a conclufion; and, I believe, every individual had laid his account of meeting with difficulties and difagreeable occurrences on the journey to Canton. In juftice, however, to thofe who had the fuperintendence of the embaffy, and particularly to the two moft worthy characters Van and Chou, who were more immediately connected with its concerns, it is but fair to obferve that no attention was wanting, nor expence fpared, to render our fituation as eafy and comfortable as poffible.