CHAPTER I

FROM WEI‐HAI‐WEI TO TIENTSIN

Our transport—An Irish _padré_—Wei‐hai‐wei harbour by night—The island by day—The mainland—On to Taku—Taku at last—The allied fleet—The famous forts—The Peiho River—The Allies at Tong‐ku—The British at Hsin‐ho—The train to Tientsin—A motley crowd of passengers—The country _en route_—A historic railway station _pages_ 1–16