30 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS of their coming,that had built stately dwellings and provided themselves with a race-course At first merchants and missionaries had lived inside the walls of the city of Shanghai.The missionaries were still CHAPTER VI. there.Two,of whom Mr.Bates was one,lived in the fields, THE REBELS SEIZE SHANGHAI CITY. outside the North Gate of the city;the English London (September 7th,1853) Mission had built premises,in the fields,west of the Barrier Road;the American Church Mission had premises,in the 66 ALAOYEH,the long-haired rebels have taken the fields,in Hongkew,not far from the dry dock;apart from city! these,the missionaries were still in the city. So cried a breathless clerk to Tzetang,as I sat at But a new population was collecting-in the fields.On breakfast with him at sunrise on the fifth.We had heard the fall of Nanking and Chinkiang,refugees fled from the some commotion in the distance,though the sound was dulled devastating Taiping armies,and-stayed their flight only by the city wall,which was between us and the noise;and we when within sight of those foreign flags,under which they had become uneasy;as we distinguished the sound of musket might hope to find shelter.These helpless fugitives from shot amid the uproar. devastated eities and provinces,flying to the proteetion of "Do you mean the Taiping Rebels from Nanking?" foreign fags,were to-day only a few thousands;in a year "No,Tungkia,they are not the Taipings,but the Triad they were counted by myriads;in seven years more,by tens Society,so it is said." of myriads.These of the first fight were mostly destitute. "What in the name of all the demons are Cantonese Triads They had fled in haste,with no time to make provision for doing in Shanghai?Run out and return as soon as you can their needs;they squatted wherever the fancy took them-so with all the news you can get.' long as it was within easy reach of the protection they had Tzetang then called out to his head cashier,who was at come for-erecting for themselves mat shelters,which ex- breakfast in the next room: cluded neither rain,nor heat,nor cold;and,when they had "Here,Minting,get all the trustworthy porters you can sold their scraps of jewelry,they begged their daily food. and send the sycee along to the new bank premises in the They lived in indescribable filth and disorder,happy only to Barrier Road,and you yourself accompany the ledgers and have saved their lives:and when I walked among them with credit notes.Sunyuen (the second cashier)will be in Mr.Bates,who was eager to distribute funds which he had charge at this end.He is to send a way bill with each pair obtained from the generous-hearted merchants,we were care- of porters.Lose no time!Be as quick as you can,you and ful to go only in full daylight. everyone else.Everyone is to go along the Bund,and turn Tzetang received his reports,and could hear no word of inland up the Rope Walk (Foochow Road)between Iyuen any new danger.Yaolien had his vedettes out along the and Kichang.” Imperial Canal,and could detect no sign of advance from Then turning to me-"You go to the new bank and help Nanking or Chinkiang.We were all looking carefully to Minting;I will stay here.And put up the sign-board of a the defences of our front door,when suddenly our back door foreign hong any name you like." was forced.On the day before the opening of the season of The bank was soon in a bustle of busy activity,almost White Dews,the fifth day of the eight month (Sept.7th), drowning the commotion outside.I went off with the first came a bolt from the blue,the seizure of the city of Shanghai convoy,.and was busy enough receiving the loads and, by the Small Sword Society,an offshoot of the Triad together with Minting,sorting them into their places.Out- Society. (31)
32 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS side the front entrance I put up an improvised sign-board, written on an oblong of red paper,Yung-hi Yang-hang Foreign firm of Eternal Prosperity-as Tzetang had bidden me,to gain such protection as might be from the aegis of foreign prestige. Soon after my arrival Mr.Bates came in with his wife and little daughter,not expecting to see me,but taking refuge in the first foreign premises they could find.Mr.Bates was surprised at the suddenly blossomed foreign firm,of which the brand-new sign-board met his eyes,and was still more surprised to find that,in the pseudo-foreign firm,he was actually finding shelter with his old friend,the Taki Bank. He had been driven from his house,which was uncomfortably near the city wall,for,by this time,musket and matchlock shots were being fired from the wall on the outlying country. He knew nothing of the rising,beyond the fact that the rebels were members of the Triad Society;and he was much con- cerned for the safety of the missionaries inside the city.His wife and daughter remained with us,while he went to find lodging with some friend in the foreign quarter. When he returned,an hour or two later,he had with him two young foreigners,whom he introduced as Mr.Woodhull Burgess of the American firm of Bedford Co.and Mr. William King of the English firm of Shepard,Wright Co. "And this is my Chinese friend,Mr.Ting Meisun,a learned scholar,already a Siutsai,and a gilt button mandarin in rank.” "And what is a Siutsai,Mr.Mason?"asked Mr.Burgess. c“Ir.Ting,”interposed Mr.Bates,“Meisun,with the ac- cent on the sun,is his given name." "Siutsai is the first degree given to scholars,"I replied. "And what is your honored rank?" “Rank？Ve don't have rank,re're just common or garden mercantile assistants;-and we haven't degrees,Billy and I.Billy is a Public School boy,Rugby,and I'm Boston Latin School.My father,who is my boss here,was a Har- LI HUNGCHANG vard man,but I was too keen on getting out to China for me to waste four years at home.Now we've come along to see the fun,and we want you to show it to us
THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 33 "Yes,"said Mr.King,"Wood has hit off;we want to see the show” "Fun? Show?There is no fun,only commotion and rioting,and those we can hear but cannot see.It is too dangerous.” "Come off!"cried Mr.Burgess,"We're going to see all that's going on.” I had by this time learned a good deal of English,and I spoke it,slowly but fairly well,in the correct manner taught to me by Mr.Bates;but these foreigners spoke a language which was new to me.It was English,but not the English of the books I had read,and I had no key to it. Mr.Burgess saw my difficulty."Oh,well,I see I shall have to speak by the book.We would like to have you go round with us,if you can spare the time." "I am afraid I cannot,"I said."I shall have to stay by the bank until Yang Talaoyeh comes over from the old bank." “Who is Yang Talaoyeh?” "He is the owner and manager of the Taki Bank." "Oh,you mean old Taki.I know him,and Billy and I will come around and see you tomorrow.What's the red sign on the door?" I explained the subterfuge,at which we all three smiled "What do your friends call you?"he asked. "Acquaintances call me Ting Siensheng,that is Mr.Ting; my kinsfolk and intimates call me Meisun,just as you call Mr.King,Billy,and he calls you Wood." "Well,I'm going to call you Mason.I think you seem a good sort,and,if you'll give me a chance,I'll turn you into a good American.” I felt a passing sense of anger,quickly followed by amuse- ment.Here was a member of a nation less than a hundred years old,of a race a bare thousand years in existence,pre- suming to think that he could improve me,whose race had a recorded history of four thousand years and.were civilized when his were barbarians;and he thought that the improve- ment could be effected by turning me into an American. But he did not look conceited or assume an air of superiority, and I preferred his attitude to that of Mr.King,who seemed to regard me as if I were of a subject people.So I said
34 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 35 simply that I would be glad if he would call me Meisun or any business to be,and hammering like a coppersmith's Mason,as he preferred. hammer. "Right you are,"he said,"and some day you'll call me So we started off along the Barrier Road,crossed the Wood,when you can get your tongue around it." bridge over the Yangkingpang,and made for Mr.Bates' So he and Mr.King took their departure for that day.Mr. house.I noticed some method in these foreigners'madness. Bates took his wife and daughter to the house of a friend, They were engaged on what seemed to me a most foolhardy with whom he had found a lodging.I was compelled to let exploit,but thoy did not take foolish risks.They.went them go on foot,as chairs were out of the question on a day always ahead,but they kept the house between them and the enemy;and,when we got to the house,they looked round the of such commotion. At dusk Tzetang arrived with his wife,and his daughter, corner cautiously before making the next move.Then,with Changmei,a girl of about twelve,with her feet,curiously a "Come on,Mason,"they darted across some open ground to the shelter of a cottage nearer to the North Gate,I close enough,still unbound.Tzetang,he told me,did not approve of the practice.He had had an anxious day,full of work; after them,as if my own volition were in abeyance. "Look here,Mason,"said Mr.Burgess,"there's no use but the rebels had not come out of the city,and he had been taking unnecessary risks.These long-haired rebels may let able to remove all the banking assets and furniture,and his their guns go off without meaning it,if they see your head- own valuables,but had been obliged to leave behind all his gear.Just coil your pigtail round under your cap." household furniture,bronzes,and porcelain,much of it of Again I felt that flush of resentment.That the badge of great value. a loyal Chinese subject should be concealed,and that it should The next morning Mr.Burgess and Mr.King came,as be ignominously termed a pigtail!But I was in a fever of they had promised,and I got Tzetang's leave to go with them excitement,and saw the wisdom of the advice;so.in a on a tour of investigation.They made straight for the city, moment my queue was coiled away out of sight.Then we a step which filled me with dismay. "But it is dangerous,"I complained."Do you not hear took another dart across another open space to the shelter of another cottage,and soon were close up to the North Gate. the sound of shot A bullet might hit you." On top of the wall,which was some thirty feet high,were a "Come off,Mason,"said Mr.Burgess-it was always Mr. few armed men,who were in no way threatening and seemed Burgess that took the lead."I have taken the contract to inclined to be friendly.My courage returned from my turn you into a good American,and you have just got to shoes,in which it had found refuge,and I had learned a learn that you are not to turn back because you are afraid lesson-that boldness is one way of securing safety.One of of getting hurt.Besides,you are all right;I've got some the men on the wall called out. sticking plaster and a bandage in my pocket,"and he "You'll have to interpret,"said Mr.Burgess to me;and slapped me on the shoulder,hard,but evidently meaning it so I did. in a friendly spirit. "Who are you and what do you want?"the man had said. Never in my life had I been treated in so unceremonious "This is Mr.Billy King,an Englishman,and I am Wood- a manner.I resented the familiarity of that slap,and yet, hull Burgess,an American,and this is my friend Mr. behind the resentment,I knew that I liked it.I realized that Mason,whose nationality I am not going to specify,"was in this foreigner,only a couple of years older than I,and one the reply,but,though my queue was concealed,my garb was of a race not highly civilized,there was yet something I did enough to betray me,and the soldier replied- not have;and I felt spurred on to do whatever he was ready "You two are all right,but your friend Mr.Mason had to do--but my heart was some inches higher up than it had better look out
36 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 37 "Are you the Taiping people?"asked Mr.Burgess. "We are members of the Small Sword Society,and we are courtyard.Mr.King also sent off the principal cashiers,and, in alliance with the Heavenly Empire of the Taiping,"the turning to me- "Mr.Ting,you'd better be my comprador and interpret man proclaimed proudly. "What has happened to the foreigners inside the city?" for me.Then he ordered the doors to be opened,and the was the next question. mob,or some of it,surged in to the outer courtyard. "They are all right,and are being looked after. We will "What do you want?"he asked in a quiet and command- send them out as soon as it is safe,probably tomorrow.The ing voice. merchants are safe enough,because we intend no harm to "We don't know thie firm,"answered one who seemed like any foreigner;and the missionaries are our special care, a leader. because we are all Christians,just as the Taiping people are." "Oh dear me!Here's a man who does not know me;what “How about the Magistrate?” shall I do?" "Oh,we scuppered the Hien,the bequeued imp of hell;he "Is this a foreign firm?"came the truculent question. had done enough of harm to several of ours who had just "Look at me,and look at my partner,"indicating Mr. mistaken the ownership of some bits of property." Burgess,"And here's my comprador,a scholar from “And the Taotai?? Soochow.We are a new firm,but,by George,we're not going "We don't know where be is.He may have been killed to stand this.Here,get out !and the two muscular young in a serimmage and not recognized.No one would care for men elbowed and shouldered out of the doors those members him.” of the mob who had made their way in,and then stood in "Who are you,yourself? the entrance,calm and smiling,until,one by one,and then "I am a Ningpo man,but I have lived here for eight years more rapidly,the mob dispersed.And I had learned another past,and I feel that I belong here." lesson-that bluster and truculence are not the best means Just then Mr.King.whose tongue had been less actively of dominating a crowd of inferiors. engaged,noticed a commotion in the direction from which Tzetang was very grateful to the two,saying little beyond we had come.We drew our Triad's attention to it and asked a "my t'ankee you,"but shaking their hands warmly.My if it was caused by his people attacking the foreign quarter. prejudices were rapidly evaporating.I had thought it vulgar "No,no,"he returned,"our people are all inside the city, to clasp the other's hand and shake it,as is the wont of these and we have no intention of attacking the foreigners." foreigners,and had considered that true courtesy and the We hastily retraced our steps,and,as we passed Mr.Bates' canons of civilization required one to clasp one's own hand house,saw a disorderly mob beginning to pillage it;but we and wave the two hands gracefully before the face of the made no stay,and went directly to the new Taki Bank.The other;and yet I could see that Tzetang could not fittingly doors were shut,but otherwise all was quiet.We went in to have expressed the full extent of his gratitude otherwise than rest,but had becn there for only a few minutes when a mob by the hand-shake. came hammering at the entrance.Mr.King took charge. Another commotion and a great column of smoke in the Turning to Tzetang,he said- direction of the river,drew us out of doors and down to the "Friend Taki,this is the Yunghi foreign firm,and you Bund.There we found that a mob had invaded the Custom had better join your family.We can do without you here." House,and pillaged it,and set it on fire.We walked among Tzetang looked as if he wanted a fight,with the mob for the throng without being molested,and I spoke to some of preference,but a fight anyhow;then he seemed to reflect, the mob,who answered civilly enough. then smiled,then turned silently and went into the inner "Who are these men ?asked Mr.Burgess