Page:Illustrations of China and Its People vol. II.pdf/29

 which, when let down, is supposed to prevent the passage of boats and evil spirits beneath the bridge till darkness gives place to sunrise.

During my visit, the only foreigner in the city was the British vice-consul. When taking the illustration, I endeavoured to avoid the crowd by starting to work at daylight, but the people were astir, and seeing my strange instrument pointed cannonwise towards their shaky dwellings, they at once decided that I was practising some outlandish witchcraft against the old bridge and its inhabitants. 1 he market stalls were abandoned, and for aught I know the shops were shut, that the barbarian who had come to brew mischief for them all might be properly pelted. The roughs and market people came heart and soul to the task, armed with mud and missiles, which were soon flying in a shower about my head. I made a plunge for the boat, which was fortunately close at hand, and, once on board, it told to my advantage when 1 charged a ruffian with the pointed tripod as he attempted to stop my progress. My camera lost its cap, and received a black eye of mud in exchange. For myself I sustained but little damage, while it may be fairly said that the bridge was taken at the point of the tripod.