×

Warning

JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 1064
Print this page
Tuesday, 14 March 2017 05:26

Devils on the Loose

Written by
Rate this item
(0 votes)
Chinese junk Chinese junk Painting origin unknown

In my latest book, Dragons, Devils and Rebels, there's a chapter on what Chinese and westerners thought of each other in the early days of contact. The book's finished, but I've since been reading a biography of an Englishman who lived in Shanghai in the mid 1850's. To his shock, when he first arrived Shanghai had been overrun by rebels, and was under siege from imperial troops. Still, he was an intrepid traveller. One day he went on 'an interesting excursion' to Wusong, by boat down the Huangpu. He and his companions sailed into trouble on the way home.

 

He writes:

'...in the evening we were puzzled to know how we should pass the Imperial fleet in safety. They are somewhat random with their fire after dark, and might easily have taken us for Chinese, if not Rebel spies. Mr Edkins came to the rescue, proposing that we should sing as we passed them, that they might know we were foreigners. This suggestion seemed good and the boatmen were pleased with the idea... We approached some ships we took to be the fleet, and passed them singing lustily. But just as we were about to congratulate one another on our success, the boatmen shouted to us to recommence, as we had been mistaken in what we supposed to have been the fleet and were just coming within range of their guns. 

'So now we had to tune up again without delay...We concluded just opposite the largest ship of the fleet. It was now quite dusk.

'"What now?" cried Mr Edkins, as the alarm-gong struck on board the ship. 'There is not a moment to lose."

'He then commenced singing I know not what. Quaterman struck up a truly American tune...while I at the same moment raised a third with all the voice I could command. The men on the warship were shouting loudly, our boat's crew outdoing them if possible, and the whole thing was so ludicrous that I could control myself no longer. I burst into a fit of laughter most inappropriate to the occasion. 

'"Who goes there?" shouted a voice from the Imperial ship.

'"Bai-gui [white devils]," yelled our men, while we cried simultaneously, "Da Ying-guo" [Great Britain] and "Hua-qi-guo" which means Flowery Flag Country, or America. 

'After a little further explanation we were allowed to pass, upon which my companions began to lecture the boatmen for having called us 'white devils'. The poor men, who had not yet received their day's pay were very penitent.'

This story is taken from a letter by James Hudson Taylor of 20 September 1854, in Biography of James Hudson Taylor by Dr and Mrs Howard Taylor, Hodder & Stoughton, London 1983, pp111-112. 


Warning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /home/alisonll/public_html/templates/rt_metropolis/html/com_k2/default/item.php on line 248
Read 3253175 times Last modified on Tuesday, 14 March 2017 09:51

238475 comments

  • Comment Link Josephnug Saturday, 03 December 2022 15:28 posted by Josephnug

    https://hot-topics.ru/

    Report
  • Comment Link BobbyHOARM Saturday, 03 December 2022 15:02 posted by BobbyHOARM

    erectile dysfunction in men erectile pills over the counter
    erectile aliments erectile issues after 40
    erectile pills in canada https://challonge.com/afersparun

    Report
  • Comment Link BobbyHOARM Saturday, 03 December 2022 14:59 posted by BobbyHOARM

    is erectile dysfunction a disease cialis without erectile dysfunction
    erectile pills in canada erectile reflex
    erectile pills canada https://challonge.com/afersparun

    Report
  • Comment Link BobbyHOARM Saturday, 03 December 2022 14:47 posted by BobbyHOARM

    how erectile dysfunction affects women erectile disorder exam
    erectile stimulant erectile function after prostatectomy
    erectile at 43 https://pinshape.com/users/2517016-cheap-ed-drugs

    Report
  • Comment Link BobbyHOARM Saturday, 03 December 2022 14:41 posted by BobbyHOARM

    cheap prescription drugs canada pharmacies
    cheap prescription drugs online medicine order discount
    canadian prescriptions online https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonline.studio.site/

    Report
  • Comment Link Danielpag Saturday, 03 December 2022 14:39 posted by Danielpag

    Самый быстрый способ прогнать сайт — подыскать компетентного линкбилдера и доверить это ему. Просто введите в поисковую строку на сайте Kwork запрос типа: прогон сайта онлайн. Вы непременно найдёте то, что искали. Подробнее: СЕО-специалист.

    Report
  • Comment Link BobbyHOARM Saturday, 03 December 2022 14:20 posted by BobbyHOARM

    erectile sonic help with erectile dysfunction
    erectile growing foods herbs for erectile dysfunction
    can erectile dysfunction come on suddenly https://wallsawadar.zombeek.cz/

    Report
  • Comment Link Danielpag Saturday, 03 December 2022 14:08 posted by Danielpag

    Самый быстрый способ сделать прогон сайта — найти грамотного линкбилдера и доверить это ему. Просто вбейте в поисковую строку Google запрос типа: прогон сайта Хрумером. Вы обязательно найдёте то, что искали. Подробнее: СЕО-продвижение сайтов топ 10.

    Report
  • Comment Link Danielpag Saturday, 03 December 2022 13:40 posted by Danielpag

    Самый быстрый способ прогнать сайт — подыскать грамотного линкбилдера и доверить это ему. Просто вбейте в поиск Google запрос типа: заказать прогон сайта. Вы совершенно точно сможете найти то, что искали. Подробнее: SEO-специалист.

    Report
  • Comment Link BobbyHOARM Saturday, 03 December 2022 13:24 posted by BobbyHOARM

    erectile treatment erectile hyperfunction
    erectile function scale erectile restoration
    erectile chambers https://500px.com/p/stofovinin/?view=groups

    Report