On the third day we passed a city called Taiping Foo, “foo” meaning “city” in Chinese.  We afterwards learned that for some months the inhabitants of the city had withstood a siege from both belligerents, and one day the Imperialist general conferred with the Taotai, or mayor, and said that it was well known that the inhabitants had been very good and had not favored the rebels, and now if they would open their gates to the Imperial soldiers, he would promise them kind treatment; and the people were weak enough to believe him and opened the city gates, and in a few hours nearly the whole population was butchered and thrown into the river, and those were they whom we had seen floating in clusters a few days before.

Conclusion.

In the course of my journey through life I have been in many strange places, and have met many strange people.  I have seen many strange sights — some grave, some gay.  For many years I was on passenger-carrying ships, and have carried many travellers, amongst whom some strong and enduring attachments have been made.

Although I have been in some bad places, and met some “hard characters,” yet was I never molested in any country in which I have been.  I have seen some misfortunes, but was never depressed by them.  I could always see around me others who stood in need of help.  I have spent a long life in foreign lands, and happily I can now look back upon the past and say that I have found much good in all the lands which Almighty God has permitted me to visit.

My motto has always been, Never despair; persevere, and never give up hope.

And now with the most happy memories of the past I can look back without a moment’s regret and ask God to bless all those who have been good to me.  And who has not been good?  The Project Gutenberg Etext of Notes by the Way in A Sailor’s Life by Arthur E. Knights ******This file should be named nwasl10.txt or nwasl10.zip******

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