“ uniform in their laws, their manners, and their language ; but
“ differing effentially in each o f thefe refpeits from every other
“ portion o f mankind ; and neither defirous o f communicating
“ with, nor forming any defigns againft, the reft o f the world.”
How ftrong an inftance does China aftord o f the truth o f the
obfervation, that men are more eafily governed by opinion than
by power.
C H A P . X .
Journey through the Province o f Canton.— Situation o f Foreigners
trading to this Port.— Conclufion.
Viftble Change in -the Character o f the People.— Rugged Mountains.— Collieries.—
‘Temple in a Cavern.— Stone p a r r i e s ^ -V a r iou s Plants fo r Vfe and Ornament._
Ar rive at Canton— Esepence o f the F.mbajfy to the Chinefe Government To the
B ritijh Nation.— Nature and Inconveniences c f the Trade to Canton.— The Armenian
and bis P earl.— Impofitions o f the Officers o f Government injlanced.— Principal
Caufe o f them is the Ignorance o f the Language.— Cafe o f Chinefe trading to London.
— A Chinefe hilled by a Seaman o f His Majejlys Ship Madras— Delinquent faved
from an ignominious Death, by a proper Mode o f Communication with the Govern-
meat.— C o n c l u s io n .
W E had no fooner paffed the fummit o f the high mountain
M e-lin, and entered the province of £>uan-tung, or Canton, than
a very fenfible difference was perceived in the conduct o f the inhabitants.
Hitherto the Embaffy had met with the greateft re-
fpedt and civility from all claffes o f the natives, but now even
the peafantry ran out o f their houfes, as we paffed, and bawled
after us Queitze-fan-quei, which, in their language, are opprobrious
and contemptuous expreffions,. fignifying foreign devils,
imps epithets that are beftowed by the enlightened Chinefe on
all