Native—“Hao shwo! You are very polite.”
E.—“How far is it from here to Sha-Ho?”
N.—“How far is it from here to Sha-Ho? Oh! you’re going to Sha-Ho, are you?”
E.—“Yes! How far is it?”
N.—“How far from here, eh? What are you going to do at Sha-Ho?”
E.—“Just going for an excursion. But how far is it?”
N.—“Just going for an excursion, eh?”
This sort of thing goes on until you thoroughly lose your temper, seeing which an old man in the crowd holds up his forefinger and thumb in an oracular manner. This to the initiated signifies that Sha-Ho is eight (not two) li distant (the li is about one-third of a mile). The Chinese have a way of counting with their fingers, which is as necessary to learn as the numerals of the spoken language. They constantly answer a question of figures by holding up one hand without speaking. Up to five it is all plain sailing, but beyond that it is not so easy. The thumb and little finger mean six; thumb and two first fingers, seven; thumb and forefinger, eight, forefinger crooked, nine; second finger doubled over forefinger, or whole hand shown, first palm and then back, ten.
We passed our first night at Chang-ping-chou, which was a slight roundabout, but my companion wanted to see the Ming tombs about which I wrote to you last autumn. We found all the inns full, but a small beggar boy, who, possibly with an eye to copper cash, took a great interest in our proceedings, led us to a neat little inn outside the walls where we were quiet and cleanly lodged.
24th April.