He offered, in the kindest manner, to act as my Mentor, on condition that I should arm myself with patience until the mail from Europe, which was expected in a few days, had come in.

{95} At such times the merchants are so busy and excited, that they have no leisure to think of anything but their correspondence.

I was, therefore, obliged to wait, not only until the steamer had arrived, but until it had left again, which it did not do until a week had elapsed.

I have to thank Mr.Agassiz that the time did not hang heavily upon my hands; I was most kindly and hospitably entertained, and enjoyed the opportunity of noting the mode of life of those Europeans who have settled in the country.
Very few take their families with them to China, and least of all to Canton, where both women and children are closely imprisoned in their houses, which they can only leave in a well-closed litter.
Besides this, everything is so dear, that living in London is cheap in comparison.

Lodgings of six rooms, with a kitchen, cost about 700 or 800 dollars a-year (140 or 160 pounds).