The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-09-23
TRAVELLERS IN CHINA.
LOOKING OUT FOR ROUTES FOR A
GREAT RAILROAD.

crowd OF Wen ana bOyS-fOlteness Oh
the Governor Goneral-An Apology for
the Persistent Intruders.
We had sent Wang Fuyeh with our
passports to the governor generals
Yamen, with instructions to say, II agree.
able to him we should call and pay our
respects, and so far as might be necessary
explain the object Of our travelling in that
part of Honan. We had already been in
formed by young mandarin connected
with the Yamen who had crossed the river
with us, that the governor general was
OILY temporarily holding the office, that
he was not well, and that new governor
general was expected soon, hence we
anticipated that IL might not be con-
venient for him to receive us, and in
structed Wang Fuyeh to say, in that case,
that we were examining the Yellow river
and its entertainments, and would like to
have passports into the province of Shan
tung, together with u guard of policemen
or soldiers to protect our inn and relieve
us OF the unwecome attentions of the
crowd of men and boys who were gather
ing there
During the absence of our messenger
they continued to collect in the outer
TO press upon the inner gateway. Finally,
through the persistency and activity Of
the boys in front, and Of the pressure Of
the men behind, and perhaps also through
the relaxed vigilance of our servants, they
succeeded in Infringing the gate and
gained admission into the inner court,
around which ourselves and servants had
been assigned to rooms. The first thing
which attracted their attention and seemed
In some degree to satisfy their curiosity,
was Ferguson our big Chinese cook,
with his charcoal fire and pots and pans,
preparing dinner. This was evidently
rare treat to them, and enabled our men
to hold them in check opposite the kitchen
door, about twelve feet from our own, for
perhaps twenty minutes, but during this
ane the pressure from behind increased,
and the inner courtyard which was only
thirty-six feet long by twelve
wide, became crowded to suffoca-
ton Ii Aleck and the three
"boys," aided at times by Ferguson,
screamed themselves hoarse and ex.
hausted all their strength in their efforts
TO expel the intruders without doing them
bodily harm. Our visitors had but little
to say, but with wide open eyes and gap
Ing mouths they pressed each other
steadily forward, recoiling whenever the
servants made a threatening rush at
them, and then, as they reiterated, edging
a little further into the open space just
outside Of our door, which was closed and
covered by cotton portere.
The governor general received our mes
senger very politely, but said it would not
be necessary for US to call, unless we had
something important to communicate, and
lie would not call on us because he had
sore eyes, but would send one of his man
darins to give us such assistance as we
might require. He also said he would
send guard at once. Wang Fuyeh had
scarcely finished his report when man.
DARN, wearing the crystal button and pea
cocks feather, and clad in silk and furs,
made his appearance, accompanied by his
chairmen and retainers, bearing high state
umbrellas and spears, and wearing official
hats, and all this state was to bring the
governor generals return cards. After
leaving them he departed hastily, and the
crowd lost no time in pressing int the
inner court and up to our door again. We
gathered our servants once more and
drove the crowd back nearly to the street,
when we were again stopped in the full
tide OF victory by the coming of still
more stately mandarin with banners and
umbrellas, and larger and more snowy
retinue.
1t would not do to be caught out of our
quarters or engaged in such an occupation
by distinguished visitor, so we returned
TO our room and received him with all the
state we could assume. On entering he
lowed and saluted us politely in the usual
Chinese way by clasping his hands and
raising them to his face, and we returned
his greeting in the same manner, after
which we showed him to seat, and a
short conversation followed. He told us
that he mad been set by the governor gen
eral, and asked us what assistance we re
quired. Being a bright and intelligent
man, he took in the situation at once
apologlzed for the rouglness of the people
OF Kai-fungfu, and said he would explain
To them that we meant them no harm, but
had come on a friendly mission He init
mated, however, that as soon as we were
rested and had got such supplies as we de-
sired, we had better resume our journey
Before taking his leave he directed one OF
his own attendants to remain with us, and
he would send a guard without delay to
drive out our unwelcome visitors and keep
order The single man left with us did
his level best to guard the inner gate and
hold 1t against the increasing pressure
from without, but he was overpowered
and pressed back like the rest, and finally
folded his hands in despair. Our servants
still stood their ground as best they could
but were at last pressed back against our
door. 1t was now nearly half past 5. and
no policemen had yet made their appear
ance.
The most venturesome of the crowd had
gained our windows and begun poking
holes through the paper panes for the pur-
pose OF looking in, and thereupon we sal
lied out for the last time and went for the
heather Chnee in way they were not
slow to understand. Our servants and
carriers came 10 our assistance manfully,
and even the solitary policeman plucked
up courage 10 pitch in. BY dint of push
ing, yelling and gesticulating, aided per-
haps by fear on the part of the crowd, we
gradually pushed those in front back upon
those in the rear so vigorously that in the
course or ten minutes we had got the
courtyards nearly clear In the midst of
our most vigorous onset, we found our
selves suddenly reinforced by detach-
ment OF six or eight policemen, with the
chief OF police at their head, and this rein
forcement was less gentle in its treatment
of the intruders than we had been; but il
was quite noticeable that there was no
clubbing, as would have been the case
with an American mob who would not
tsNtas On In %. II.