The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-14
for the Governor General, they exclaimed
+" He speaks Mandarin =" and seemed to

{" He speaks Mandarin" and seemed to
gain complete confidence.
Other villagers now Joined the party, and
most interesting conversation commenced,
during which Mr.. M. tried to get the head
man to take the letter, but without success.
Suddenly we saw them start and run for
the boat in evident alarm, a proceedinglfor
which we could not account as the crowd
had made no apparent demonstration.
They had got no more than half way
through the mud, however, when a large
body of cavalry burst over a neighboring
ridge and spurred furiously after them.
This, of course, explained the mystery, and
readily accounted for the enormous time
which our three friends were making
through the mud. Being Georgian myself,
u was naturally elated at noticing my
friend Ward ahead, next came Mr.. Martin,
and finally the MILDLY, all doing astonishing
ly well considering the mud. Just as they
had reached the boat and showed off, two of
the horsemen dashed into the water after
them. They were wild Tartars from the
North, who certainly did not distinguish
between US and the English, and who would
certainly have cut off their heads, upon the
moment, of any white persons falling into
their hands. Altogether it was a nrrrOw
escape.
Upon arriving on board our friends had
not much to say, they seemed DESTROYS to get
into dry clothes and to take on board sew
eral glasses of brandy and water, in spite
of their being anything but brandy drinkers.
After finding themselves " all right once
more, they related their experience 1t
seems that the villagers were friendly, but
that they knew the character of Tartar
horsemen so well, that as soon as they be-
came aware of their approach the head man
took the letter, exclaiming at the same time,
" The horsemen are coming! Quick! Run
for your lives ~ Which being translated
in hurried voice by Mr.. Martin, as he ran
away, the others did not understand their
backs being toward him at the time,) and
turned to each other for enlightenment.
What did he say?" queried one.
81 don't know what he said," was the
reply, "but it is easy to see what he is doing
Here goes !' and the mud began to fly.
"Qui! quiz" (quick quick! exclaimed
the villagers, and our friends did not stop to
thank them.
Returned to the Powhattan, we related
our adventures, and quietly began to await
an answer from the Governor General This,
as has already been mentioned, arrived on
the I'd inst, and was to the effect " that the
letter to Gov. King had been received by
the Tausti of Tein Sing, and would be
forwarded-that on the 9Th Gov. King
&Lo ~
ern entrance, and conduct him and bis suite
to Pekin for the purpose of exchanging the
treaties, and that pilot would be sent to
bring US into the entrance" Accompanying
this letter was list of provisions sent us as
cumshaw" or present, which we accepted,
more with the object of showing that we
were friendly than anything else. They
consisted of the following 30 sheep; 20
pigs; l4O chickens; 60 ducks $500
pounds of white -four; 1000 do. rice $50
pounds vegetables $50 do fruit, and they
were divided equally among all on board.
July 5th.--We are now gradually con-
Stunning this cumshaw," as we await the
arrival of the pilot, who should haze been
here yesterday. Perhaps he could not make
us for want Of wind, as junk has been in
sight since yesterday morning, evidently
trying to beat up to our anchorage. Yes.
terday the English steamer Fury left for
the mall and now in few moments, goes
also the French Frigate. l shall not be
able, therefore, to give you any later dates.
The present impression on board is hat
pilot is close at hand to take the Toey-
wan into an unknown entrance he
has been sent by the Governmen--that to-
morrow we shall have an interview with the
Governor General, and that by the 18th we
shall have travelled by boat and sedan
chair from the North Forts to Pekin.
Thus, while the English and French will be
returning South, with their crippled ships
and disabled crews, the American Legation
will be on its way to Pekin at the expense
of the Chinese Government, and without
having fired gun. I must confess that
this will surprise many greatly, but such
evidently is the present aspect Of affairs.