n in the tea-shop said,
"A bamboo box and a bed, such as you describe, were carried past here
about half an hour ago. The bearer seemed to be going towards either the
Great East Gate or the South Gate; you had better go to the hongs there
and inquire." I asked him to accompany me in the search, and promised to
reward him for his trouble, but he would not. Another man offered to go
with me, so we set off together, and both inside and outside the two
gates made diligent inquiries, but all in vain. I then engaged a man to
make a thorough search, promising him a liberal reward if he should be
successful. In the meantime I had some dinner, and addressed a large
concourse of people who had gathered together.

When he returned, having met with no success, I said to him, "I am now
quite exhausted: will you help me to find quarters for the night, and
then I will pay you for your trouble?" He was willing to befriend me,
and we set off in search of lodgings. At the first place or two the
people would not receive me; for though on our first going in they
seemed willing to do so, the presence of a man who followed us, and who,
I found, was engaged in one of the Government offices, seemed to alarm
them, and I was refused. We now went to a third place, and being no
longer followed by the mandarin's messenger, we were promised quarters;
some tea was brought, and I paid the man who had accompanied me for his
trouble.

Soon after he was gone some official people came in; they soon went
away, but the result of their visit was that I was told I could not be
entertained there that night. A young man present blamed them for their
heartless behaviour, and said, "Never mind, come with me; and if we
cannot get better lodgings for you, you shall sleep at our house." I
went with him, but we found the people of his house unwilling to receive
me. Weary and footsore, so that I could scarcely stand, I had again to
seek quarters, and at length got promise of them; but a little crowd
collecting about the door, they desired me to go to a tea-shop and wait
there till the people had retired, or they would be unable to
accommodate me. There was no help for it, so I went, accompanied still
by the young man, and waited till past midnight. Then we left for the
promised resting-place; but my conductor would not find it, and he led
me about to another part of the city; and finally, between one and two
o'clock, he left me to pass the rest of the night as best I