On the 8th day of this month, some children, seeing your great country’s war-boats passing, were much frightened, and, racing away, foolishly excited our people to attack them, for which the great army has entered our villages and punished us. We repent our fault fully, and, prostrating ourselves, beg, undeserved, that mercy may be shown us, and promise that men and women will, one and all, live peaceably and quietly for coming generations under your favour. Trusting that the great Consul will grant our prayers, etc. Of course the Viceroy, to whom I had promised that the force I was about to send from Hong Kong should wait to co-operate with his and his Commissioners, was greatly disappointed, and I expect our Minister at Peking (Sir Rutherford Alcock) will be the same. [Sidenote: Feb. 2.] 10 A.M.--Weighed, and stood out of river Canton. [Sidenote: Feb. 6.] Arrived at Foochow. Proceeded up river Min, and anchored off Pagoda. CHAPTER XCVI THE NORTHERN PORTS [Sidenote: 1869. Shanghai, Feb. 21.] _Salamis_ arrived at Shanghai; at anchor off naval yard. When on a visit to Sir Rutherford Alcock at Peking, in September 1867, he, having been applied to by the merchants at Chin-kiang on the subject of opening the Poyang Lake to steam navigation, expressed a wish that, if an opportunity offered, I should visit and report on its capabilities. The subject of the new treaty and fresh ports to be opened having been discussed by the Chamber of Commerce here, and affairs either in Japan or China not requiring my immediate presence, I decided on gratifying a long-cherished wish of ascending the Yang-tse-kiang as far as practicable in the _Salamis_. Mr. Swinhoe, our late Consul at Taiwan, Formosa, a scholar, linguist, and naturalist, has been selected by Sir Rutherford to visit and report on such ports as are most desirable for trade; particularly near that part of the Great River, the Poyang Lake, and above Hankow, even as far as the province of Sechuen. In compliance with the Minister’s request, the _Opossum_ gun-boat waits at Hankow to convey Mr. Swinhoe whither he will. The Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, more particularly interested in the opening of new treaty ports, has selected Mr. Michi, an enterprising traveller, and well acquainted with the value of teas and silks, to proceed, at their request, with Mr. Swinhoe. Another gentleman, Mr. Francis, accompanies them. The Chamber of Commerce at Shanghai having also got the firm of Jardine and Company to lend their small steam-vessel, she will be attached to the _Opossum_, with such surveying officers as Brooker can dispatch from the _Sylvia_. Although they will hardly have time to complete a survey of the river above Hankow, they will be able to verify that of Captain Blakiston. On Monday, February 8, we left the hospitable roof of Mr. Lavers, of the firm of Gilman and Co., and started in the _Salamis_. [Sidenote: Flag in _Salamis_, March.]