38 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 39 "Do they belong to the people in the city?"asked Mr. ships of war,in the midst of a population of over fifty King. thousand Chinese,besides the turbulent junkmen;but I had "Most of those I talked with,"I replied,"are.Foochow had no intention of imputing to them cowardice or timidity, and Amoy men,with a few Cantonese,many of them junk and I hastened to express my regret.Again that friendly sailors;their dialect is so peculiar that I could not under- slap on the shoulder,which this time I did not resent,and stand them very well;but some were Ningpo men,and from "You're all right,Mason,"from Mr.Burgess.And I went them I gathered that they were out just to see what they on- could pick up.” "I think too,that you need have no fear for your houses "But what are the junk men doing in this galley?"asked or your goods,if only they are properly guarded by your own Mr.King. watchmen.” "They are a turbulent lot any way,"I answered,"and are "Then we're all right,"said Mr.Burgess."All Bedford always ready to join in any disturbance.They formed the Co.'s Chinese staff,from the comprador down to the seullion, greater part of that mob that attacked the bank." are Cantonese..” "And how about those that are not sailors?"asked Mr. "So are Shepard,Wright Co.'s,"added Mr.King. Burgess. "And the Cantonese seem to be as thick as thieves with "They are for the most part Ningpo men,with some from all the rascals inside the city,as well as outside;so I guess Fukien and Canton,who have settled here to take the work our worldly goods are safe enough." provided in a rapidly growing port.And then there are the We then parted,for the day as I thought,and I returned refugees from up the Yangtze,driven out by the rebels;they to the new Taki Bank.I hadhad two days of excitement, live in a state of great destitution,and are ready for any with much apprehension,and I felt exhausted;but I was up- chance of illicit profit.I conld understand them all right, lifted by new sentiments.I had met foreigners of a class and they say that the government seems non-existent and the different from Mr.Bates;and,while I entertained a respect officials have all disappeared,and they do not see why they for him of one kind,I found,to my surprise,that for them should not take the chance provided." too I felt a sort of respect of another kind.Of course they "Things look rather dicky for us foreigners,"said Mr. were not guided by the principles of Reason,and could not be King."We shall have to start a police force,if this sort of said to be civilized to the fullest extent,and I felt assured thing goes on.” that my inherited traditions were far superior to theirs;and "What's the matter with our noble volunteer force that we yet,I was not so sure of it as I had been.I could see in.them organized last spring?"asked Mr.Burgess. some qualities which I did not have,qualities,too,which "Oh,that's all right for emergencies,"returned Mr.King, were worthy of imitation.And,more than that,I began "but we all have our business to attend to,more than ever dimly to perceive that there were in myself some qualities before,in fact,and we have no time for these tuppenny of which I had not been aware,only two days before. riots.” I interposed to reassure them."The mob seems to have no bad feeling against foreigners,and I think you may feel perfectly safe,.” "Thank you for nothing,Mr.Mason,"interposed Mr. Burgess,"we're quite capable of looking after ourselves." I flushed at the reproof.It is true that they were only two hundred foreigners of the trading class,with two or three
THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 41 soon seated with the two foreigners in the reception hall around a small candle-lighted table;for the proper furniture had not yet been salved from the old bank.Mr.Burgess then told us the reason for his late visit,for the evening had CHAPTER VII. already reached the time of setting the watch (9 p.m.),an hour at which those of us who were not engaged on the night WE RESCUE THE TAOTAI. work of the bank would ordinarily be thinking of bed. "My boy (valet)is a Cantonese,"he said,"and he heard HAT evening of the sixth day (Sept.8th)Tzetang from a cashier on the comprador's staf,also a Cantonese, and I sat by the light of the candles talking over the who heard from a Cantonese merchant outside the East Gate, events of the past two days.Some points were already near your old bank,who heard from a Cantonese inside the clear in his mind. City,a member of the Triad Society-" "These Small-Swords are a branch of the Triads,that hat seems pretty direct,"interposed Tzetang. seems clear;that is a Cantonese society,always working for "Now,don't you interrupt,Taki;that's as direct and a rising against the Manchus,ready to grasp any weapon certain as can be;Bedford Co.'s comprador is security for and co-operate with any agency to hit the ruling dynasty. that.” That would explain their pretence of friendliness to foreign- "Well,if Loisun secures it,then it is certain."Of course ers,because the clerical staff of the foreign firms in Shanghai Tzetang did not say these words;he,like all the Chinese are mostly Cantonese,and they are counted on to secure for- merchants and bankers who had frequent dealings with the eign support against the imperial government." foreign firms,could speak only "pidgin English,"not the "But that soldier on the city wall,"I interposed,"de- language of the books which I had learned from Mr.Bates, clared that they were Christians,just as the Taiping rebels nor even the colloquial which Mr.Burgess used when he were in Nanking.” was in a merry mood.I cannot render in Chinese Tzetang's "Yes,Christians,or Mohammedans,or any other creed method of speaking,but,in English,what he actually said that would make an appeal for sympathy;that is all they was,"Tat seemo me come allomos'one stlait line,"and, want.Do you believe they are Christians?" "Well,suppose Loisun can secure,belong allo same sure "No,I do not;nor do I believe that the Nanking rebels t'ing.” are Christians.Mr.Bates,too,has his doubts on the sub- "All right,Taki.What my boy learned in this way was ject,though he holds his judgment still in abeyance;but that the Taotai was smuggled away by his people and stowed he says that most of his fellow missionaries are firmly con- in a safe place.” vinced that certainly the leaders,and probably many thou- "What!Is Wu Tajen alive and safe?"asked Tzetang. sands among their followers,have sincerely adopted the "Don't know the gentleman,"said Mr.Burgess."I refer essential tenets of Christianity." to old Samqua,our respected Taotai." "That's as may be,"he returned,"but they have a queer "It's the same.Samqua is the name the foreigners knew way of showing it.” him by,when he was a Hong merchant in Canton,in the old "Yes,and as you said once,the foreign merchants have no factory days,just as you all call me Taki." great belief in them." "Oh,I see!Well,old what's his name is alive and well. Just then there came a loud knocking at the outer doors. Being Cantonese,his Cantonese servants looked after him, After proper precautions,with much question and answer, and the Cantonese among the noble rebels then took on the the newcomers were admitted,and found to be Mr.Burgess job and stowed him away in hiding;and now they send and Mr.King with a Chinese servant.Tzetang and I were (40)
42 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 43 word that he has to be got away before morning and out of the city,or they can't answer for him any longer,and that thoughts,as they came one after the other,into words,slowly and jerkily. someone has to go in and do the trick.Loisun is tremulous to get him out,but he is equally tremulous about going in "We shall need,"(I saw the two foreigners smile slightly, himself,so we came to see if you and Mason could think but could not for the life of me tell why)"We shall need a of any way.” ladder of bamboo-light to carry-just over twenty-five Cus- I could see that Tzetang hesitated and was on the point toms'feet (30 English feet)-twenty-seven would be better of undertaking the task,but finally he said:"No,I cannot -and then we must have a boat of some sort-to cross the leave the bank.If anything should happen to me in these moat-and you must mufHle your feet-your heels make too critical times,there is no one left to manage it." much noise-you must put on Chinese shoes-no,better still, And I added:"If Tzetang will not do it,I do not think put hemp sandals under your soles-I will get them for you you will find anyone else." -and you must have some means of seeing the time-per- "We thought that you might do it,Mr.Ting,"said Mr. haps those sticks you call matches will do-and Yang King. Talaoyeh must have an armed guard waiting at the bridge "Oh,no!I really could not!I am much too afraid!"I over the Yangkingpang when we come back.That is all that I can think of..” hastened to say. "Come off,Mason"-this from Mr.Burgess,of course- "By Jove,"said Mr.King,"you are a wonder,Mr.Meisun." "You've just got to go.It is ridiculous for a man who has I fushed,with pleasure this time."Oh,it's nothing,"I gone through what you have today,to say that he is scared. said."Ever since I was a boy I have gone out before dawn Billy and I will go along with you,and if,between the three with old Cockeye after wild duck and geese,and it's a sort of of us,we don't pull it off,you may call me a donkey." habit he taught me to think out beforehand what we might need.” I wished that he would not call me brave,for I was not. I was a scholar,and,like the other scholars I knew,my “Tsay,Mason”-this was Mr..Burgess--“You must let life was regulated by courtesy and ceremony,and had in it us in on that wild-fowl game.But,for tonight now,this no place for passion or violence,and my first impulse must I think is about the sort of thing to throw light on our deeds always be to avoid all danger.But Mr.Burgess went on, of darkness."And he produced a curious sort of metal without giving me time to make any protest: lantern,burning oil,and throwing its light in one direction "It is arranged this way.Just before the setting of the only,through a glass lens,while the light could be entirely fourth watch,whenever that is-一-” obscured by a metal shutter.I had never seen its like before. "That will be just before three in the morning,"I ex- "But there is one thing you forgot,"he went on."We plained. have each got a pair of barkers,"and he produced a pair of "We must be across the moat and under the city wall,at small double-barreled pistols."two lives in each hand, a point fifty paces east of the North Gate,provided with a and one of them for you." ladder.Immediately after the change of the watch,a light "Oh,no,I couldn't!"I exclaimed."Except our Chinese will be shown there on the wall,and we then are to set up matchlocks I have never fired a gun or pistol in my life,and the ladder and climb to the top.The rest is up to the fel- I wouldn't know how to use if." lows inside..” I could not possibly have that danger added to those we We all did some thinking.It was obvious that the plan must,in any case,encounter,and he did not insist.I then needed more elaboration than that,but no one seemed to proposed that,'as the moon was near its setting,we should have any suggestion to make.Then I struggled to put my utilize the last of its light to hunt up our boat.Tzetang had sent out to get the ladder,and,when it was brought,sent two
44 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 45 men to carry it as far as it was safe for them to go with us. Explanations were then exchanged.Mr.Johnstone ex- So we went,five of us,with every precaution and in silence, plained that,being on patrol with these two sailors along the as far as Mr.Bates'house.There we dropped the ladder and Barrier Road and the Yangkingpang,he had come over to sent back the two porters;and then,while the moon,at its investigate a flash of light which he had noticed coming from first quarter,was still above the horizon,we started out to Mr.Bates'house.This was the fash of our lantern,as Mr. find some means of crossing the moat-a boat in preference, Burgess opened it to lock at his watch,and our reason for or,failing that,some means of making a raft.We were being there was explained. fortunate enough to.find,near some moat-side cottages “Now,Johnstone,”said Mr.King,“You've got to be in abandoned by their owners,a dilapidated punt-like boat, this.First of all dowse your glim,and keep it out as long without oars,poles,or rudder.Noting the place,we re- as you are this side of the Yangkingpang." turned to Mr.Bates'house. "Give me a light for my cheroot first,"interposed Mr. The house had been pretty well cleared by the mob of the Burgess. morning,but I knew where to find a pole suitable for punt- “At four o'clock,”continued Mr.King,“not any later, ing,and from a piece of plank we fashioned a steering paddle. but not much earlier,come back here with half a dozen men, Then we sat down to wait,in darkness and in silence.In a well armed;when we come back,we may need a covering whisper I remarked-"It is lucky that we found that boat;it party,and if you explain matters at headquarters,they will would not be pleasant to swim across the moat." probably fall into line.At the bridge,at that hour,you'll "No,it wouldn't,"whispered Mr.King,"it's a foul- find a Chinese guard;let them alone-they will be Taki's smelling bit of putrid water.I should be sorry to get into it, men waiting for us,but tell them not to make any noise." and as for the Taotai-” Mr.Johnstone agreed,and thereupon left.We had an- "All the same,we'd have got over,and we'd have got old other weary spell of waiting,but,to my surprise,I no longer Samqua over too,"said Mr.Burgess. felt the feeling of trepidation I had before.At last the time I had been kept up during all the events since we left the arrived for us to make a start.First we carried the ladder bank,by the energy and vitality of the two foreigners,but I to the side of the moat,at a point about ffty paces,as nearly began to feel the reaction.I am not ashamed to confess that as we could judge,further from the Gate than the appointed now I was daunted by the darkness,the silence,and the place.Mr.King remained here,and was to move it inch by waiting.It was only by clinching my teeth that I could inch into the water,with every precaution against noise.Mr. prevent them from chattering,I could feel my knees Burgess and I then went with all care to the boat we had trembling as I squatted in a corner on the floor,and my eyes found,and,he at the steering paddle,I poling the boat,we were heavy as if with sleep.I closed them to rest them,I were not long in rejoining Mr.King.We all then ferried vaguely heard Mr.King say."He's a well-plucked one,a across with our ladder,more and more thankful that we had snooze will do him good,"and I was asleep. not to dip into that fetid water;and,finding the appointed I was aroused by a light fashing in my eyes,and a loud place,fifty paces from the North Gate,we sat at the foot of voice crying out in English-"Who the hell are you?What the wall to wait. are you doing here?"I saw three foreigners inside the I began to have again the feeling of trepidation I had be- doorway,all armed and looking very fierce.Mr.Burgess fore,and no effort of my will served to still the chattering of recognized one of them. my teeth or the trembling of my knees.Relief caime soon, "Well,if it comes to that,what are you doing here,John- however. Before many minutes had passed I heard the tattoo stone?” on the hollow bamboo tube which marked the change of the "Hello,Burgess,that you?" watch.That was our signal for action,and,in a moment,the
46 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI ·47 only mark of my agitation was the hammer-hammer of my detect no trace.When he saw me,he recognized me in turn. heart.The tattoo ceased;a feeble light was shown over the "Oh,respected Shengyuen,oh Ting Siensheng, take me wall above us;as silently as might be,we erected our ladder out of this,take me out of this,don't leave me here?"he in place.Mr.Burgess mounted first;I hastened to go next, cried,and he grasped my arm with a clasp I could not relax. as I feared that,if I were the last my feet might win the I explained matters briefly to my companions,and we victory over my heart and drive me to ignominious flight; started to retrace our steps.Silence was essential to our and Mr.King came last.Clambering through an embrasure safety,but the Taotai babbled and whimpered incessantly, to the banquette of the wall,we found a group of six armed notwithstanding all my efforts to restrain him. rebel soldiers faintly illuminated by the light from a horn "Tajen,you must,you really must,remember that any lantern.The two foreigners seemed in no way impressed noise may bring the long-haired ones to us." by this sight,but,I confess,I was flled with fear and again "Yes,yes,I will be quiet,but that Ahkiu!Oh,how he my knees began to tremble;but again my courage was has bled me!And that Ahlin,Chen Ahlin is his name,their restored when I saw,just joining the group,a seventh man chief,he's a cormorant too!And that Liu-last month he whom I knew.It was Ahkiu,formerly a Cantonese shop- was just a petty tea broker-I remember him,and I will re- keeper in the English quarter,whom I had seen at the Taki member him too-you would think he was a great merchant, Bank,and whom I now,without unnecessary words,in- the way he opened his mouth to swallow my small savings! troduced to my companions. You'd think,my dear Ting Siensheng-ah!if all men were We then marched in a procession;first a man with the lantern;then,at an interval of five paces,myself with my like you!-you'd really think that Ahlin and Ahkiu would be pleased to save the life of a fellow-Cantonese.They said arm linked in Ahkiu's,closely followed by Mr.Burgess and Mr.King,the soldiers coming last.We went,in absolute they were,they really professed they were;but they both de- silence,down a ramp on the inner side of the wall,along a clared that it went against their conscience to let me keep the lane,by another lane,skirted a stagnant pool,then another pilfering-that's what they called it,the pilfering-of a servant of the devil's imps of Manchus.Oh,the ruffians! lane,until we came to a miserable cottage almost in ruins. Ahkiu knocked softly at the door of this house and gave And one after the other,they made me show them where I quietly a pass-word,whereupon it was opened and we went had hidden my hoards in my yamen.I'll remember it,.and in.By the light of the lantern I descried a miserably dressed I'll remember them!Oh,the scoundrels!And they took my man cowering in a chair,in whom,as he looked up,I recog- robes and my button,and threw them into a cess-pit,the filthy swine!And then they wanted to cut off my queue-to nised the Soo-Sung-Tai Taotai,Wu Kienchang. In company with Tzetang I had twice paid a visit to Wu turn me into an honest Triad,they said.Oh,the unutterable blackguards!May I live to see their mothers and their Kienchang in his Yamen in the city.He was then in the plenitude of his power-the highest official ruling over the sisters defiled!I went on my knees to them,yes,I prostrated myself and kotowed with my forehead on the ground,and richest intendancy of the richest province of the empire, controlling the destinies of three millions of human beings, begged them to spare my queue.They relented,but they supervising the trade and the foreign relations of what was wanted more money,I declared that I had no more;but they insisted;and I had to write an open cheque on the Fengyuen destined to be the principal port of China,collecting a Bank for ten myriad taels.That's what my queue had cost. revenve on which he levied a personal income of several tens Oh,the imps of hell!And I had to write a letter to Loisun of myriads of taels a year.Now,in the mean,abject,crushed to make sure that the money was paid." creature that I saw before me,I could recognize the features of the individual,but of the all-powerful Taotai I could There was more,much more,like this.I had seen the naked abject soul of a man stripped of the trappings of