the scene of the occurrence, and informs the people that they will bombard the place immediately unless 6,000 dollars are paid.  They got the money, but the mandarins at once squeezed it out of these same Shroffs, saying, that as they brought the barbarians to the spot, they must pay for the damages they inflicted.  Meanwhile, the ‘foreigners’ have it, I apprehend, much their own way.  They are masters of the situation, pay no duties except tonnage dues, which are paid by them at about one-third of the amount paid by native vessels of the same burthen!

[Sidenote:  Mr. Burns.]

Hearing that Mr. Burns, a missionary, whose case is narrated in the series of ‘insults by the Chinese authorities’ submitted to Parliament (he having been in fact very kindly treated, as he himself acknowledges), was at the island, I invited him to breakfast.  I found him a very interesting person, really an enthusiastic missionary, and kindly in his feelings towards the Chinese.  He wears the Chinese attire, not as a disguise, but to prevent crowds being attracted by his appearance.  He does not boast of much success in converting, but the Chinese are very willing to listen to him and to take books.  They approve of all books that inculcate virtue, morality, &c., but they have no taste for the distinctive doctrines of Christianity.  As Yeh said, when a Bible was presented to him from the Bishop:—­’I know that book quite well, a very good book.  It teaches men to be virtuous, like the Buddhistic books;’ and then turning very politely to his captain, ‘Will you be good enough to take care of this book till I want it.’

The country in this neighbourhood is very lawless.  Burns, a few days before he was arrested, slept with his two companions, two native Christians, in a large village.  During the night the house he was in was broken into, and all they had stolen.  Nothing remained but a few of their books, which they carried tied to sticks over their shoulders.  A peasant came up to him and said, ’I see you are not accustomed to carry loads,’ and took his burden and carried it for him six miles, asking for nothing in return.  Other natives bought the books (they had previously given them gratuitously), and thus they got money enough to go on with.  When they got into this principal town, and were arrested by the police, the authorities seemed rather to regret it.  They underwent some interrogatories which Burns seems to have turned into a sort of sermon, for he went at length into Christian teaching, and the judges listened most complacently.  They confined them in prison, but did everything they could to make Burns himself comfortable.  His companions were not so well treated.  He joined them at one time at his own request, under circumstances curiously illustrative of Chinese manners.  A subordinate of the gaoler with whom he was lodged died from swallowing opium.  The gaoler was at once held responsible, and his house was mobbed.