THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 59 which were much more handy and efficient weapons than our more showy spears.These I had Cockeye make rests for on the sides of our slipper-boat,ready to our hands in an CHAPTER IX. emergency. I REVISIT MY HOME. Four days later,the moon being then eleven days old, Cockeye and I started at sunset for home.The country SPOKE to Tzetang of my proposed visit home. He ad- around Shanghai was clear of the rebels,who were shut up vised me to get Cockeye down. in the city,and we were so fortunate as to escape the notice "The country is much disturbed,and you will be the of any Green Banner troops,who would have been quite as better for a friend by your side.And you must both be dangerous.Nothing occurred until just before we reached armed;you may not hold off a large mob,but,if you have Siking,when we saw on the bank,lying in the moonlight, weapons you may gain time to get away.Another thing; something which looked like a human body.Going on shore, you had better go after dark,on the chance of slipping we found a man lying dead.We made our way to a cottage through without a fight,and,if you wait a few days,you close by and knocked at the door;there was no answer. will have moonlight two-thirds way through the night.And Again we knocked,more loudly,but with the same result. then you had better make Cockeye learn the route thoroughly Cockeye then burst open the door,while I stood with pistol by night,so that he can make his way blindfolded under the ready;and inside,by the light of my dark lantern,we saw darkest sky,or at any rate can travel then by compass." a boy of about fourteen,cowering in a corner and speechless The advice was good,and I wrote for Cockeye to come with terror.Cockeye pulled his own queue forward to re- around by way of Sochow.The next day I went to see assure the boy,and,after a time,succeeded in quieting his Wood,to ask him where I could get pistols like his,and a fears.The body outside,he said,was that of his father, dark lantern. and he had not brought it in because he was afraid to show "Good for you,Mason,"he said,with his friendly slap himself outside in the daytime,and feared,even more,the on the shoulder,which I no longer resented,"and I'll teach evil spirits at night. you how to load and shoot them.Go to Fuli,they have "Who killed him?"I asked. them.Or no,I'll get them for you.The order is out for "The long-haired rebels." strict neutrality,and no one is allowed to sell arms to any c“Have they come as far as this?” Chinese,on either side.So you may have a difficulty." "Yes,they were here this morning,coming from the east. He bought for me two pairs of double-barrelled pistols. My father saw them and started to run away,so they went which he taught me how to use;measuring out the powder, after him and killed him with their spears.Then they went pouring it down the barrel,inserting a wadding,which was on to Siking and took it,and they are there now." shoved down by the ramrod,then putting in the bullet and This was disquieting news,and we had to decide whether ramming it down,and finally putting the cap on the nipple. to go on,or to make our way around by other canals.I Then he took me out into the outskirts and taught me how asked the boy what he was going to do. to use the weapons,first with charges of powder only;then "Oh,take me away with you,"he cried."I will be your firing into a grave mound close by;and finally,selecting a slave;I will work for you,and I am strong;I dare not stay mound about ten feet high,going further away and aiming here.” at a mark placed on its slope.Besides this,Wood got for me, "Have you no kinsfolk here?"I asked. from an American man-of-war in port,two boarding pikes, "No,none.My father came from Kunshan,but I do not (58) know what kinsfolk he has
THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 61 60 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS haired ones-“Oh！how can you talk of such fiends?”,-and So we took him in the boat and went on.Soon the boy as to the overshadowing danger-"Oh!why do you try to whispered to Cockeye that we were drawing near to Siking. frighten me?"She was well satisfied with her relations with We then unshipped our paddles,each took a single paddle my mother,who never slapped her or browbeat her,as so to work with his hands,and we went on,slowly and silently, many mothers-in-law do;but then,my mother was always along the shaded side of the canal,keeping as far from the of a most gentle and most placid disposition.."Go to Shang- moonlit water as we could. hai?No,she couldn't think of it;the long-haired ones In the village there were still,even at that hour,some scat- were there;and wouldn't they kill one?And why wouldn't tered lights,and we heard the sound of women wailing for I stay with them all there in Tungli?And did I think the dead husbands or fathers,or perhaps for worse cause.Once married woman's style of doing her hair suited her?" we were hailed,but we drifted on in the shadow;and,as My father was as much bent as ever on staying at home he neither heard nor saw more of us,the sentry who hailed under all circumstances."Didn't you tell me to run away may have thought we were ghosts,and gave no further sign to Shanghai?What would I have gained by that,you silly of alertness.Then we were past the village,and,resuming boy?The long-haired devils have taken Shanghai,and are our paddles,went on at full speed. as far away from Soochow as they were last spring." Tsingpu was our next point.This was a walled city,too "But,my dear father,"I replied,"at Soochow they have extensive for us to be able to drift past;so we decided that no greater protection than was given at Wuchang or Nan- we must put on full speed and run the gauntlet of any.sen- king;while at Shanghai the foreigners have given notice tries there might be on the walls.We had not heard that that they intend to protect their settlement against any the city had been taken,and the sentries would,presumably, attack.” be Green Banner troops,and therefore much less alert and "I am ashamed of you!"he cried."Do you think I am less skilled marksmen than the longhaired ones would be. going to fall prostrate before the foreign devils,and kotow We rowed steadily and strongly,and were abreast the middle to them,and beg them to protect me?I should be ashamed of the city wall before we were noticed.Then it took some of myself!And I am ashamed of you!" time for the soldiers to rub their sleepy eyes,and more to I turned sadly away,filled with the awful feeling that I get their matchlocks in readiness,and still more to get the knew more than my father.And yet it was true;I did range of their moving target,so that it was only from the know more and see more clearly.These foreigners were not extreme corner that we had any shot sent after us.None devils;they had not required me to kotow;and,small body of us was hit,and we went on our way with rejoicing in our of men though they were,I believed that they could main- hearts. tain their defence.Did I have these thoughts only twelve Beyond Tsingpu the country was quiet,so far,at least, months ago?I could not tell.I could only hope that I as we could discover in the night;and we skirted the Sitan should never think the worse of my own folk,because I Lake and traversed the home lakes and canals without inci- thought the better of foreigners. dent. Soon after sunrise we arrived,Cockeye taking the boy I went to pay my respects to Wenkwang.This was his home with him,and I going on to my father's house.I due,as head of the family,but,besides that,I had always found father,mother,and wife,all well and undisturbed by had a liking for him because of his liking for me.Though anything beyond flying rumors;and,my mind at ease on indolent now,he had been a finished scholar,and was still their account,I slept the sleep of exhaustion,after a night inclined to scholarly pursuits.Indeed,as one of the gentry, of much labor and many emotions. not holding office and not being engaged in business,he could Pingsin was delighted to see me.She chattered like a have no other occupation. sparrow,all about her little daily routine.As to the long-
62 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 63 "I have come,"I said,"to present the home father's com- wife and children and the other women to Soochow.Yaolien pliments to Your Excellency,"(he had attained to red button will look after them there." rank,but,in the higher grades,by purchase)"and,on be- A decision,even such a no-decision,seemed to quiet his half of my unworthy self,to ask after your rest." agitation,and he then asked me many questions about the "I hope the honored Shengyuen eats his rice well,"he seizure of the city of Shanghai,and about the attitude of replied,"and that your respected father,my good cousin the foreigners,which I answered to the best of my ability. Minsien,enjoys good health." "But how can they dare to proclaim neutrality ?he wished "I found the home father enjoying good health,but much to know."Are they not in Shanghai by the gracious per- disturbed by the late news." mission of His Sacred Majesty?And is it not their duty With that he began to twitter,and his hands to shake. to show some gratitude for the favour shown them?How For a moment he could not speak,and then:"Oh,my dear can they say they will help neither side?As if the matter Meisun,what shall we do?Are the long-haired ones coming was indifferent!They had plenty of war-ships,yes,and this way？Will they kill us all？Where can we fy to？ soldiers,toc,when they came in the jenyin year (1842); Oh,tell me,where can we go?" why do they not use them now to crush the rebels,who are "My respected uncle,it is impossible to say anything defi- murdering and devastating right and left?His Sacred Maj- nite.There is certainly danger,but from what quarter no esty had too soft a heart in letting them get away unpun- one can say.The long-haired ones who took Shanghai, ished then,and we reap the consequences now !And he Triads they are,are sending out in this direction,and yes- wailed and wrung his hands. terday they took Siking.If they take Tsingpu,you will I could not answer.From all that I had heard in Shang- be in danger;but if the Green Flag troops succeed in de- hai I knew better;but I also knew,as only twelve months fending Tsingpu,they will bar their way.And then the before I had shared his sentiments,that it was hopeless to rebels in Nanking,the Taiping ones,they may any day start try and persuade him that his point of view was wrong.So to attack Soochow,though they have shown no signs of it I made no answer and,after a few reassuring remarks,I yet.On all sides there is possible danger ! took my departure. "Do you think they can take a stronghold like Soochow?" I then went on to Cockeye's house.I found the boy we he asked. had rescued-Tan Ahying was his name-much brightened "They have taken Wuchang and Nanking;why not Soo- up,though still sad at his father's death.He again asked chow ?I replied."The Green Flag armies seem unable to to be my slave,and,after a talk with Cockeye,I took him to make any resistance,and the Manchus who did not run away the Hien's yamen at Wukiang,declared him to be a destitute have all been killed.” refugee orphan,and narrated the circumstances in which c“What shall I do？Where can I go?And he wrung I had found him.I asked the Hien to act as residuary his hands in helpless despair. parent,and to sell him to me as a household slave.He "Shanghai offers a refuge,but the misery of the refugees questioned the boy very kindly,but drove a hard bargain there is extreme,as there are no houses.Soochow can give with me over.the purchase money I had to pay;and after the comforts of life,but,if an advance is made from Nan- having received the agreed price,he bound him over irre- king,it may not provide a refuge.I don't know what to vocably to me.I then handed him over to Cockeye to bring advise.Why not send the family to Soochow,and leave up;he was to help Cockeye with the boats,but I insisted yourself free to escape quickly if danger approaches?" that he must learn elementary reading and writing. "Yes,yes,I will do that,"he cried."I will just keep At my request,Cockeye was transferred to my sole service. one little concubine with me,and tomorrow I will send the My father grumbled,didn't see how he was to get along
64 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 65 without Cockeye to net the lake;but,after I had explained navigate all waters in the province at his will and without my reasons,he gave his consent readily enough.When I molestation. told Cockeye of his new master,he prostrated himself before I returned to Shanghai and found Tzetang much depressed. me,kotowed with his forehead to the ground,and expressed He had received news that the Taiping Army of the North his great joy;he bade Ahying kotow likewise.I then gave had crossed the Yellow River,and had turned towards Cockeye his standing orders.He was to help my father Shansi;but that was not the cause of his depression.The all he could,consistent with his work for me.That work foreign consuls had carried out the policy I had heard men- was two-fold..Together with Ahying,he was to learn the tioned at Mr.Burgess's,and,in addition to proclaiming a waterways around thoroughly,so that he could go anywhere strict neutrality,had forbidden the Taotai to exercise his by night;if danger came from Shanghai,he was to make functions within the settlements;further,as the Custom for Soochow;if from the Soochow direction,he must go to House on the Bund could be guarded only by foreign guards, Shanghai;and if both Soochow and Shanghai were cut off, it must not be reopened;and the Chinese Customs was not he would have to work around into the Imperial Canal,go to levy any duty on foreign trade within the port of Shang- down to Kashing,and make his way to Shanghai.I would hai until such time as the Taotai,its head,should have re- buy a light passenger boat at Soochow,and that he must established his office and residence within the city.I,too, always keep moored in front of his cottage,fully equipped was much perturbed at this news,as it seemed a denial of and in constant readiness for flight,so that my father's and China's rights over her own soil,and almost to amount to Wenkwang's families might have the means of escaping. the annexation of Shanghai. His second task was to prepare himself and Laoma,with I told Tzetang of the results of my observation while at Ahying,to act as sole guardians and servants for the two home."My father is as obstinate as ever,and refuses to families,not only in their flight,but also afterwards,in recognize that any danger exists;Wenkwang sees danger case they should become refugees,without shelter and with on all sides,and is in a twitter of fear and ready to run away small means of support.I left with him a sum of money, at any moment;Yaolien is quite satisfied that Soochow is in copper and in silver,which he was to keep on the boat as safe as any place he could go to;and the country people and was never to touch,except for the flight;and,as to his are fatalistic,and they will stay where they are until it is wages,I would pay him only a small sum monthly for his too late for them to escape."I spoke with some bitterness. maintenance,and the balance I would.deposit in his name "In my own opinion,the danger is as great as ever,whether at interest with the Taki Bank. it comes from Shanghai or from Nanking,"and I told him The next day I took leave of my family and went to Soo- of my orders to Cockeye. chow,taking Cockeye with me.I found Yaolien quite re- "You are quite right,Meisun,"he said,"and the prepa- assured in his mind;there was no sign of any advance down rations you are making are wise;but you may have to wait the Imperial Canal;the seizure of Shanghai would draw the indefinitely.The crisis may come this month,though I lightning there;and Soochow seemedi to him safer than heard yesterday that the rebels attacking Tsingpu had been Shanghai,especially as the Governor,Koerhangah,a very repulsed.from its walls;it may come this year;it may efficient Manchu,was active in taking steps for the protec- come next year;or it may be deferred from year to year; tion of the city.I saw that it was useless to combat but when it comes,it will be without warning,and you do Yaolien's present optimism;so I merely asked him to help well to be prepared for all emergencies." me in getting the boat I wanted,and to obtain from the Governor,not from any less official,a special Huchao author- ising my servant,Wang Yinshan (that was Cockeye),to
THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 67 Wood.He had been one man with Mr.King and myself, and a different man with his father and Mr.Wright;but CHAPTER X. today he showed a third side,that of the cool,practical,con- centrated man of business.After our work was over,I re- THE CUSTOMIS AUTHORITIES ARE IN DIFFICULTIES. marked on this. HE next day I went to report myself at Bedford "How is it,Wood,that you are so different?You used to make jokes,and now you are as serious as your father Co.'s hong.Mr.Burgess saw me for a few minutes, might be.” but he was busy and handed me over to Wood,who "Why,this is a pidgin,"he replied."When we work,we was to initiate me into my work and,for a time,to work work,and when we play,we play;but we don't mix the two." with me.Wood appeared glad to see me. "But you get through such a lot of work.". "Come along,Mason,my boy,I'll see that you do your "Yes,that's our way.Loisum,now,seems to saunter work” First he took me to see the hong's comprador,Ma Loisun, along all day,and all night too;I suppose that's your way." "Yes,that's the way with all of us,we just saunter along. who was the Chinese face of the firm,a partner in some Tzetang does it.He is at work early,works steadily.through respects,a paid servant in others,and in others still an the day,works long into the night,but he never seems to independent broker.No sale or purchase was made without work very hard or to be in a hurry.My uncle Yaolien at his cognizance;he guaranteed the solvency of all Chinese Soochow is like that,too;and I suppose the merchants are merchants doing business with the firm;he engaged all Chi- the same.And the officials,too,they are at their work from nese cashiers and servants and "secured"their honesty;and, dawn until midnight,but they are never busy." except for the final decision he had more to do with the "Not any for me!cried Wood."Ill do my work with Chinese side of the firm's affairs than Mr.Burgess.The any man,but when I'm through with it,then I'm off to treasury was entirely in his custody;no foreigner,whether play.” partner or assistant,ever handled a single coin;the actual In the afternoon I went to see Mr.Bates at the friend's handling of the money was done by Loisun and his staff alone. house in which he had found shelter,and arranged with him Wood now introduced me.They both spoke in pidgin Eng- to resume my lessons,giving more time to English and less lish,of which the purport was: to the Classics. "Loisun,I've brought you Mr.Ting Meisun,whom you "And what do you think now of the rebels,Master?"I know already.He has come to give us the benefit of his. asked him. knowledge of scholarly Chinese." "I am still unable to form a positive opinion,"he replied. "Yes,I am acquainted with the Shengyuen,Ting Sien- "Most of my missionary friends are still inclined to think sheng,and I am sure the firi will benefit greatly from his well of the Taiping rebels in Nanking,some going so far knowledge of Chinese." as to declare that they are sincere Christians;but a few Loisun gave us some documents,and,with-these and some refuse to accept their professions,and say that our duty, handed to me by Mr.Burgess,Wood and I went to his as foreign nations,is to the established government of the special office,in which I was to have a corner.That first country.As to the Triads in the city,I know little of them. day I was to run through the papers,giving Wood a general The missionaries who were in the city and were sent out by idea of their contents,and on the following days I was to them with every mark of respect,speak very well indeed make a careful translation of them.Here I saw a new of them.Shut up as they are inside the wall,they have (66) not done much in the way of marauding and devastating;