×

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 3734520 times Last modified on Tuesday, 14 March 2017 09:51

261964 comments

  • Comment Link khelo 24 bet Wednesday, 22 March 2023 20:25 posted by khelo 24 bet

    Hey, I think your site might be having browser
    compatibility issues. When I look at your blog in Opera,
    it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
    I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, superb blog!

    Report
  • Comment Link https://www.mbookmarking.com Wednesday, 22 March 2023 20:23 posted by https://www.mbookmarking.com

    It's the best time to make some plans for the long run and it's time to be happy.
    I've read this publish and if I may just I want to suggest
    you few fascinating issues or tips. Perhaps you can write subsequent articles relating to this article.
    I want to read more issues approximately it!

    Report
  • Comment Link http://aoc2wiki.rf.gd/ Wednesday, 22 March 2023 20:21 posted by http://aoc2wiki.rf.gd/

    I absolutely love your blog.. Very nice colors & theme.
    Did you make this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I'm wanting
    to create my very own website and want to learn where you got this from or
    exactly what the theme is called. Thanks!

    Report
  • Comment Link Brandonavaky Wednesday, 22 March 2023 20:06 posted by Brandonavaky

    Amazing tons of helpful data!
    can you help me to do my homework should i do my homework now or in the morning someone to do my homework i will do my homework
    i don t do my homework where can i do my math homework online homework help cpm should i do my homework
    dissertation research https://studentessaywriting.com

    Report
  • Comment Link hawkee.com Wednesday, 22 March 2023 19:40 posted by hawkee.com

    Hello, just wanted to tell you, I liked this article.
    It was helpful. Keep on posting!

    Report
  • Comment Link AndrewWig Wednesday, 22 March 2023 19:37 posted by AndrewWig

    Reliable postings. Regards.
    how to introduce a writer in an essay essay on how do i spend my summer vacation write my essay websites cheap essay writers online

    Report
  • Comment Link https://vulkan-vegass.com/ Wednesday, 22 March 2023 19:25 posted by https://vulkan-vegass.com/

    I absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post's to be just what I'm looking for.
    can you offer guest writers to write content
    for yourself? I wouldn't mind publishing a post or elaborating on many
    of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome site!

    Report
  • Comment Link Caseyencup Wednesday, 22 March 2023 19:00 posted by Caseyencup

    https://vk.com/wall-219453247_10
    https://twitter.com/JohnSmi49003033/status/1637142614653714432
    https://vk.com/wall-219381748_23
    https://www.tumblr.com/lexi724689787888/711864029076963328/
    https://www.tumblr.com/lexi724689787888/712154732433670144/

    Report
  • Comment Link Corazon Wednesday, 22 March 2023 18:58 posted by Corazon

    hello there and thank you for your information – I have certainly
    picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points
    using this website, since I experienced to reload the site many times previous to I could get it to load properly.

    I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but
    slow loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your high quality score
    if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective intriguing
    content. Ensure that you update this again very soon.

    Report
  • Comment Link Gregorymup Wednesday, 22 March 2023 18:50 posted by Gregorymup

    You actually revealed that effectively.
    writing an abstract for dissertation https://helpwritingdissertation.com personal college essay https://writeadissertation.com

    Report

Leave a comment

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