the it luxuriantly. The poor people in the villages do
not appear to fear us much. We treated them well before, and they
expect similar treatment again. The Admiral did his work of occupying
Tientsin well.... He has great qualities.

[Sidenote: Tientsin.]

_Tientsin.--Sunday, August 26th._--We reached this place about
midnight. It was about the most nervous operation at which I ever
assisted, going round the sharp turns with this long ship by
moonlight. I had a moment of painful _saisissement_ when I felt almost
certain that we should run into my dear colleague Gros, who had
grounded in a little gunboat at one of the worst bends of the river.
We only saved him by dropping an anchor from the stern, and going
backwards full speed. The Yangtze was bad enough, but we never used to
go on at night, and there was no danger of collisions. This ship looks
also as if she would go head over heels much more easily than the
'Furious.' I am waiting for Parkes and the General before I decide as
to landing, &c. Is it not strange to be here? Immediately ahead of us
is the yamun where Gros and I spent the eventful weeks in 1858, which
preceded the signature of the treaties of Tientsin! _Two P.M._--We are
to have the yamun in which Reed and Putiatine were lodged in 1858; a
much better quarter than our old one; and the General, Gros, and I are
all to lodge in it together.

[Sidenote: Chinese yamun.]

_Tientsin.--August 27th._--I had a very bad headache after I had sent
off the mail yesterday. ... Our ship had, moreover, got aground, and
was lying over so much on one side that it seemed possible that she
might topple over altogether. Under these circumstances, and having
the prospect of a very noisy night on board, I determined to land and
sleep in my yamun. The portion of it dedicated to me consists of a
regular Chinese garden, with rockwork and bridges, and ponds full of
lotus leaves, and flowerpots of all dimensions with shrubs and flowers
in them, surrounded on two sides by wooden buildings, containing rooms
with carved woodwork and other Chinese neatnesses. It is the only
house of a Chinese gentleman I have ever inhabited, for when I was
here before I dwelt in a temple. The mosquitoes were a little
troublesome at first, but I got my net up, and slept tolerably, better
than I should have done here; f