Identifier: millions1884chin (find matches)
Title: The Millions 1884
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: China Inland Mission
Subjects: Missions
Publisher: (Philadelphia) China Inland Mission
Contributing Library: Knox - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: Algoma University, Trent University, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Nipissing University, Ryerson University and University of Toronto Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
scertainly some advantage : the things get much lessjolted, being securely and immovably fastened to thepack-frames—too securely, alas ! for the boxes, whichare corded on to the wooden pack-frames with such avengeance, that unless they are extraordinarily strong,they will show sundry breakings as the result of it. Andtoo securely also for ones comfort, if one should happento need to get at anything ; in which case, one is quite sureto provoke some very plainly-expressed grumbles from themuleteer. But pack-mules prove too expensive—thirty-one shillings for carrying a load of three cwt. for 330miles—and so we keep to the ponderous carts as long aswe can, notwithstanding the jolting and jars. THE BARGAINING. Our trusty Chinese agent soon finds out the carts, andafter the indispensable haggling—the carter protestinghe cannot afford to take goods so cheaply as the properrate, and our agent exhorting him not to be too covetous,to remember that though in the first instance strangers,
Text Appearing After Image:
THE TEMPLE OF THE EARTH, PEKIN. CHINAS MILLIONS. in the next we become old customers (a hint of possiblefuture custom in store), followed by laudatory remarksabout us, that we are really very good people to get onwith, etc.—the bargain is struck : our luggage is tobe conveyed at about a farthing a pound, and wefor a shilling each, for the first hundred miles of ourjourney. WAITING FOR THE START. Next morning our things are ready ; our bedding, whichconsists of a thick felt rug, a wadded counterpane, and apillow, with a thin rattan mat tied round the bundle toprotect it from the too-abundant dust on the road, andthe not too clean beds in the inns, is tied up ; and we waitfor the promised cart. And wait we may ; for an hour ortwo, or half a day, or even a whole day, earlier or later,seems of the least possible importance to the Chinese intravelling. How often have we waited and waited on aboat, or for pack-mules, or for carts, by the faith of a strongassertion that they were going at

Note About Images