But there is
no law against walking in the suburbs. Usage has, however, limited the
Europeans in China to very small bounds. Some persons occasionally
violate them, and attempt a longer walk. Once round the city walls has
frequently been effected, but always at the risk of a scuffle, an
assault and battery, from the idle and mischievous among the native
population. On former occasions, some of the foreign tourists have
returned to the factories relieved of the burden of their watches and
clothes. An English baronet was once, on his passage round, robbed of
his watch, and stripped either almost, or entirely naked.
A few days ago, a party of three started at six o'clock in the morning,
and performed the circuit at about eight, with impunity. The distance
round the walls they estimated to be nine miles. A few days afterwards,
two persons set off in the evening for a walk under the city walls; but
they were not so fortunate. They were violently assaulted by a rabble of
men and boys, the former of whom pursued them with bludgeons, brickbats,
and stones, which not only inflicted severe contusions, but really
endangered their lives. The two foreigners were obliged to face about,
and fight and run alternately the distance of several miles.
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