×

Warning

JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 1064
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 3768900 times Last modified on Tuesday, 14 March 2017 09:51

263910 comments

  • Comment Link Mazrueb Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:51 posted by Mazrueb

    Мы предлагаем дипломы психологов, юристов, экономистов и других профессий по невысоким тарифам. Покупка документа, подтверждающего обучение в ВУЗе, - это выгодное решение. Приобрести диплом любого университета: parentingliteracy.com/wiki/index.phptitle=Советы_по_выбору_фальшивого_диплома&action=submit

    Report
  • Comment Link Mazrgjk Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:49 posted by Mazrgjk

    Мы предлагаем дипломы любых профессий по приятным ценам. Приобретение документа, который подтверждает окончание института, - это выгодное решение. Купить диплом о высшем образовании: sportsshoecircle.com/read-blog/2716_kupit-attestat-tehnikuma.html

    Report
  • Comment Link Mazriop Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:49 posted by Mazriop

    Мы можем предложить дипломы любых профессий по невысоким тарифам. Покупка диплома, который подтверждает обучение в ВУЗе, - это рациональное решение. Приобрести диплом университета: wiki.fc00.ru/index.phptitle=Насколько_безопасно_покупать_диплом

    Report
  • Comment Link klybnaya myzika_fxMn Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:46 posted by klybnaya myzika_fxMn

    лучшие dj треки скачать лучшие dj треки скачать .

    Report
  • Comment Link klybnaya myzika_ksKl Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:35 posted by klybnaya myzika_ksKl

    dj онлайн dj онлайн .

    Report
  • Comment Link klybnaya myzika_icMn Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:26 posted by klybnaya myzika_icMn

    клубная клубная .

    Report
  • Comment Link Jariorvyx Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:23 posted by Jariorvyx

    Наша компания предлагает выгодно и быстро приобрести диплом, который выполняется на оригинальном бланке и заверен мокрыми печатями, штампами, подписями. Диплом способен пройти любые проверки, даже при помощи специфических приборов. [url=http://sampnewrp.listbb.ru/viewtopic.phpf=18&t=1535&sid=fc542bd42b02fd5a3cad76df1e3d7d53/]sampnewrp.listbb.ru/viewtopic.phpf=18&t=1535&sid=fc542bd42b02fd5a3cad76df1e3d7d53[/url]

    Report
  • Comment Link Jariorodj Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:23 posted by Jariorodj

    Наши специалисты предлагают выгодно заказать диплом, который выполнен на оригинальном бланке и заверен печатями, водяными знаками, подписями должностных лиц. Данный диплом способен пройти любые проверки, даже с применением специально предназначенного оборудования. [url=http://onelife.forumex.ru/viewtopic.phpf=3&t=812/]onelife.forumex.ru/viewtopic.phpf=3&t=812[/url]

    Report
  • Comment Link Jariorukc Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:23 posted by Jariorukc

    Заказать диплом о высшем образовании!
    Наши специалисты предлагаютбыстро приобрести диплом, который выполняется на бланке ГОЗНАКа и заверен печатями, штампами, подписями официальных лиц. Диплом пройдет любые проверки, даже с использованием специфических приборов. Решите свои задачи быстро и просто с нашей компанией- kh.txi.ru/forum/index.php

    Report
  • Comment Link Jariorgmk Sunday, 01 June 2025 19:22 posted by Jariorgmk

    Наши специалисты предлагают быстро приобрести диплом, который выполняется на оригинальной бумаге и заверен мокрыми печатями, штампами, подписями. Наш документ способен пройти любые проверки, даже при помощи профессионального оборудования. hustlacrips.forumex.ru/viewtopic.phpf=9&t=1055

    Report

Leave a comment

Make sure you enter all the required information, indicated by an asterisk (*). HTML code is not allowed.