Our fears were gradually dispelled, and we even accepted the friendly invitation of the captain to run alongside his ship and view it, on our return.
He came in the boat with us, and took us on board, where he showed us everything himself: the sight, however, was not a particularly attractive one.

The crew looked very rough and wild; they were all dressed in a most slovenly and dirty manner, so that it was utterly impossible to distinguish the officers from the common men.

The vessel mounted twelve guns and sixty-eight hands.
The captain set before us Portuguese wine and English beer, and the evening was far advanced before we reached home.
The longest trip that can be made from Canton is one twenty miles up the Pearl stream, and Mr.Agassiz was kind enough to procure me this pleasure.

He hired a good boat, which he furnished abundantly with eatables and drinkables, and invited a missionary, who had made the trip several times, Herr von Carlowitz, and myself.

The company of a missionary is as yet by far the safest escort in China.