1841.
Reminiscences of Chusan.
485
was paddling down the canal into the open sea, when one of his clerks inquired whether his was the behavior of a faithful servant. This sarcasm went to the heart of the highminded magistrate, and he jumped overboard, never to rise again, whilst the head of the police followed his mad example.
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The worthy Samaritan, above alluded to, took one of the wounded men on board the flag-ship, for his leg had been smashed and it re quired amputation. This he willingly underwent, and when the operation had been performed, he asked for a pipe and a cup of tea with the utmost indifference. He was indeed a philosopher, and, fortunate man, has lived to receive a pension from the great emperor, The suburb was now nearly abandoned, and some of the Indian sailors made very free with their neighbors' property, having absolute- ly forgotten, the distinction between meum and tuum. ' It proved to be a very filthy place, with only very few good and spacious houses, There was an immense quantity of ardent spirits stored in the ware houses; the streets were redolent with the fragrancy of salt-fish ;, and stores of wheat and pulse were found in some of the houses of the merchants. When our officers set to work to dash in pieces the pots of liquor, it literally, flowed through the streets, and the air was in- fected with the noxious smell.
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Proclamations, issued by the commander-in-chief, were stuck up promising security of persons and property to the Chinese. Officers were seen standing in the streets, threatening to punish every sol- dier who dared to lay hands on plunder. But you might as well have preached against the entrance of musketoes; for scarcely was the eye turned to watch, one depredator, when ten might be seen coming forward from various quarters with their booty.
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Two solitary Fuhkeen men were seen unconcernedly smoking their pipes, near the body of an unfortunate man, who had been struck by a ball, and was ga.ping his last breath. On being made acquainted with the peaceful intentions of the British, they remarked, that such benevolence wanted no more striking proofs than that be- fore them, and if their designs were so kind, why then did they come at all to Tinghae. They were however anxious to avail of the prof- fered protection for their own benefit, and if they did not share in the booty, they certainly amassed enough in one day to support them- selves for a whole year.
Thousands were now seen leaving Tinghae, through the northern, eastern, and western gates, and a general flight from the city seemed to be determined upon.