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60 saying anything, while Callery was explaining to the spectators, in the coolest manner possible, that he had surprised the individual in question faisant le mouchoir. The Chinese applauded the explanation, and the column resumed its course. Thus, at the very first steps I took in a large Chinese city, I was able to vouch for the presence of that representative of a very advanced stage of civilisation, the pickpocket; that decent thief who despises violence, and exercises his calling prudently, without noise, without disturbance, and without ever employing brute force.

This was not, however, the first time I had been in the presence of these professionals of the Celestial Empire; and before proceeding further I will relate a little story for the benefit of those among my readers who may make a voyage to China at some future period.

One day, at Macao, I was walking back with Callery to his residence. While going along, he was speaking in an animated manner, and had got a magnificent parasol under his arm. Passing the corner of a street, near the bazaar, my friend stopped to indulge in a demonstration, after the fashion of the natives of southern climates, who paint at the same time that they describe a subject. He had scarcely commenced his explanation,