Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 44

1850.

Letter from B. J. Bettelheim.

21

You know I had the misfortune to lose my Latin-Chinese interpreter the day before my embarkation, and that it was mere Providence that brought us a man just as we set foot on board the Starling; his know- ledge of English was in perfect keeping with mine of Chinese, and by the time of our arrival here, we could converse with each other but very little. He was a Cantonese, and more merchant than man of let- ters, and I believe, did himself scarcely understand half of what was told him, since all who speak Chinese here, use the mandarin dialect; and thus it happened, and fortunately too, that I could never persuade myself the natives meant in earnest what they said; and whenever my interpreter reported to me their utter unwillingness to receive, or even let us land, I seemed persuaded he had not understood them, and smiled with the full assurance of one whom Capt. Hall had taught better things of Lewchew; just like a practical miner who sees gold in the depths, where others tread indifferently on earthy impurities and sedimentary waters. No doubt it was providentially permitted I should be kept in such a romantic state of mind, while surrounded as I now understand by towering difficulties. Had I then seen matters even partly as I now do, I know not what would have become of our mission. As it was, nothing could shake my intention of landing as soon as our boats could be lowered; but how to get them lowered, was the great problem. The Captain had some misgivings as to the faith and steadiness of his men, and one way or other delays were made when I thought promptitude the best course to be pursued.

At this time I also learned the surprising news of the positive de- termination of our intended infant school missionary not to land—a stroke which blasted many a darling hope I cherished, and at the same time gave me much concern for her, as the Starling was not to return to Hongkong for the next eight months. But neither did this divert me from the way of duty I saw so clear before me according to my then views. I now saw that nothing short of a coup-de-main would turn the balance in my favor; unable to get the ship's boats to land my things, which were already prepared on deck, I begged the officer on guard to let as many of them as possible be speedily lowered into the two native boats alongside the vessel; while I endeavored to keep their owners as merry as I could in the cabin below. This was agreed to, and most luckily effected before the company showed any signs of impatience; a drop of liquor is always welcome to a Lewchewan, and he will sit with you as long as you fill his glass. But now a good part of my car. go being transhipped, I on my part became impatient; the mystery was revealed, and the company hastened pellmell down to their boats,