I must also add, that the appearance and behaviour of the Chinese did not inspire me with the slightest apprehension.

I looked to the priming of my pistols, and embarked very tranquilly on the evening of the 12th of July.
A heavy fall of rain, and the approach of night, soon obliged me to seek the interior of the vessel, where I passed my time in observing my Chinese fellow-travellers.
The company were, it is true, not very select, but behaved with great propriety, so that there was nothing which could prevent my remaining among them.

Some were playing at dominoes, while others were extracting most horrible sounds from a sort of mandolin with three strings; all, however, were smoking, chatting, and drinking tea, without sugar, from little saucers.

I, too, had this celestial drink offered to me on all sides.

Every Chinese, rich or poor, drinks neither pure water nor spirituous liquors, but invariably indulges in weak tea with no sugar.
At a late hour in the evening I retired to my cabin, the roof of which, not being completely waterproof, let in certain very unwelcome proofs that it was raining outside.