"Venerable sir! I heard from my relatives in Yang-chow, that my aged mother was ill, and might soon depart this life to mingle among the shades of our ancestors. I therefore deem it my duty to aid in consoling her on her death-bed, and have obtained permission to proceed thither."

"Thou speakest well!" responded his questioner sententiously. "Remember the maxim laid down by the immortal sage Kong-foo-tsze (Confucius): Filial duty is the root of virtue, and the stem from which instruction in moral principles springs forth.' Also the first of the sacred edicts promulgated by the Emperor Kang-hee: 'Be strenuous in filial piety and fraternal respect, that you may thus duly perform the social duties.' This filial piety is a doctrine from heaven, the consummation of earthly justice, the grand principle of action among mankind. The man who knows not piety to parents can surely not have considered the affectionate hearts of parents towards their children. When still infants in arms, hungry, they could not feed themselves; cold, they could not clothe themselves; but they had their parents, who watched the sounds of their voice and studied the traits of their countenance; who were joyful when they smiled, afflicted when they wept; who followed them step by step when they moved; who, when they were sick or in pain, refused food or sleep on their account. Thus were they nursed and trained till they grew up to manhood."

Although Meng-kee had long discarded the worship of ancestors and other superstitious tenets connected with the so-called religion of China, as expounded by the ancient sages, yet he revered in all its axioms the moral doctrine of filial duty which they inculcated. Indeed, it is so much in accordance with the divine commandment, "Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the

A DASHING CHINESE OFFICER.

177

land," that it will acceptable to every sincere Christian. Accordingly, Meng-kee listened to the homily of the worthy mandarin with becoming respect.

"Are you travelling alone?" he inquired further.

"My daughter accompanies me, honourable sir, and she will be glad to pay her respects to you if you would deign to visit our humble boat."

The commander of the gunboat, who had paid but little attention to the grave conversation of his colleagues, pricked up his ears on hearing that there was a lady in the newlyarrived boat. He was a young man of rather a dashing appearance, evidently priding himself upon the gay uniform he wore. It must not be supposed that in shape and decorations it differed from those worn by officers in the army, for the two services in China are so amalgamated that the commanders of the land forces have sometimes authority over the naval forces, and naval commanders over land forces. Consequently there is no distinction in uniform, and it frequently happens that a naval officer is a more efficient soldier than a sailor, while sometimes, indeed, the commander-in-chief of an army belongs to neither of these services, but holds his appointment as the governor of a province, with his literary degree from the Hanlin examinations. Such is the anomalous rank of officials in China, which fairly puzzled the early Portuguese to classify according to European usage. Hence they adopted the general term " Mandarin" (from mandar, to command) for all government officers, so used by foreigners to this day.

Judging from his strut, Meng-kee concluded that the commander of the gunboat was more of a military than a naval officer, who was probably appointed on special service to keep an eye upon the foreign troops travelling

N

between Peking and Tien-tsin.

Be that as it may, he welcomed him and his elder colleague with great courtesy on board the passenger-boat.

Loo A-Lee was taken somewhat by surprise on the entrance of these two officials into the cabin, for she feared that something wrong had happened to her father. He soon, however, dissipated her fears by recounting what had occured at the station, and the departure of the other two boats. She expressed herself in choice terms to her visitors, and, as the morning meal was just preparing, invited them to partake of the humble fare on board, which was politely accepted.

"Do you visit these 'barbarian' troops at Tien-tsin on your way to Yang-chow?" the gallant officer asked Mengkee, after he had done justice to the fish, fowl, and rice served up.

"No, I think not. Unless we require some comforts for my daughter at that town for the remainder of our journey, we will not visit the place, but ascend to the entrance of the grand canal."

"You are right; and I am sure your fair daughter would not wish to look upon these Fan-kwei.”

This term, which does not sound very polite when translated for foreign ears, brought a blush to the cheeks of Loo A-Lee. The blush was observed by the gallant commander, who, misinterpreting its purport, addressed her.

"Hi-yah!" he exclaimed, "you may well blush at the name of these outside barbarians, who have brought disaster into the land, and dishonoured the name of our late emperor. Ah! if the generals had only taken my advice, not one of these redcoats would have landed alive. We could have had all our gunboats ranged along the

A BRITISH REGIMENT ON THE RIVER.

179 shore, five hundred in number, so that not a boat with troops could pass between, and as these came on we would have swept them into the sea, leaving not one alive. Ah! if I was only a commander-in-chief, even now I could drive the boasting cowards out of Tien-tsin. Let them come on. I could kill a hundred with my own hand in battle. Let them come down the river, and I would blow the rascals out of the water like-"

Here he suddenly stopped in his valiant speech, as he rose to show how he would annihilate the enemy, when his voice was arrested by hearing the sound of a brass band spreading its martial music over the murmuring waters. On looking up the stream there he saw approach a line of boats filled with British soldiers, whose bayonets glittered like a forest of steel in the morning sun. It was a stirring sight, and sent a thrill of delight through A-Lee's heart; but it had a very different effect upon our Chinese Captain Bobadil, who took his departure suddenly, and was followed by the customs official, who excused himself that he had his duties to perform.

On came the boats in gallant array, the blast of trumpets and the roll of drums increasing as they passed the station.

Meng-kee observed that the duties performed by the officials were to make obeisance in the most humble form, and to bang away at their gongs in token of respect to the much-hated foreigners who had conquered their army and navy.

As it was not judicious to remain longer at this place, Meng-kee gave orders to the boatmen to get under way immediately; and they followed in the rear of the Britishfreighted boats, to the chagrin of the dandy officer, who had been smitten at first sight with the charms of A-Lee.

Journeying on the Grand Canal.-Scenery by the way.-Junks tracked by men.-Peasantry rough in manner.-Implements rude.-Desolation of Lin-tsing, destroyed by the Taipings.-Carts propelled by sails and steered.-The fugitives cross the Yellow River, called "China's Sorrow."-Its course shifted from east to north outlet.They arrive at Yang-chow, where the canal joins the Yang-tsze River. The native city of Meng-kee.-Reception of him and his daughter at their parental home.

00 MENG-KEE ordered the boatmen to follow the flotilla of troop-boats, keeping within view of the last one, and on no account to attempt to pass them should even their speed be lessened. He knew that the Taiping emissary and his recruits were ahead, and he had no desire to come into contact with them. By keeping in the wake of the British transports until they reached the junction of the Grand Canal with the Peiho, their boat could pass the western suburb of Tien-tsin unnoticed, at which place he expected Cut-sing would be waiting for him.

The weather continued fine throughout the day, and the breeze became more favourable, so that the boats sailed along swiftly, reaching the junction early in the afternoon. Here the flotilla dropped their sails, and the boats were rowed easterly to the city, while that of Meng-kee sailed westerly, and in a few miles entered the famous Grand