22
Letter from B. J Bettelheim.
JAN.
and shoved off at full speed as if to prevent their unexpected good luck further increasing. This was just as I desired. I had not the slightest fear of any damage being done to my goods, and could not repress an encouraging feeling crossing my bosom on beholding the natives doing something towards the reception of their missionary, although I at the same time knew they did it involuntarily.
At this stage of affairs, the captain could not of course refuse a boat to let me look after my baggage, and in this boat likewise some boxes were taken on shore. That we had the native boats to guide us was the most fortunate feature of the whole affair. For had I landed with- out them, I should certainly have carried all my cargo to M. Forcade's dwelling, taking advantage of his kind permission given me the pre- ceding day. Such a step, I afterwards plainly saw, would have been the worst we could have taken; for once housed, however huddled to- gether (Mr. Forcade had then only a single room and a cabin), the of ficials would have gladly seen both parties as uncomfortable as possible, and never have made the slightest effort to accommodate us, or suppose they were indeed capable of a shadow of hospitality. We should have been obliged to accept thankfully, the meanest hovel they might have felt disposed to pick out for us.
As it was, we rowed in quite another direction, following the natives to Napa,—(Mr. F. lived in a village called Tumai), and arrived with them at a spot called Tundo, just at the entrance of the junk-harbor, where as we now know, it was impossible for them to let us stop. Thus the onus fell on them, to try by all means to get us to go to another place; so that we could, as we really did, stand out for a good residence, by mere passive continuance where we were. Some slight resistance was made to landing our goods, part of them were actually plunged in- to the sea during the pushing to and fro, but as it did not amount to more than a faint attempt, I found it best to leave it entirely to the heroism of the second mate, while I went twice more to and from the ship, till all things were landed. I then brought my family, and straight- way proceeded with them to the temple. Arrived there, we were im- mediately waited upon by a great number of officers. The table being served, the parley recommenced, it seemed to ine never to end. At last the governor of Napa came, but as I did not know at all how to com. pliment either in the Chinese or another manner, I found it best to
* The temple at this spot, called Lin-hii sz' 臨海寺
or Seaside mo-
nastery, besides serving for all visitors, allows a full view of all the shipping transactions of Lewchew.
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