Poor sickly people were these--of the ten in the first row three were suffering from goitre, one from strabismus, and two from ophthalmia.

All were poorly clad and poorly nourished; all were very dirty, and their heads were unshaven of the growth of days.

But, despite their poverty, nearly all the women, the children as well as the grandmothers, wore silver earrings of pretty filigree.
Now, even among these poor people, I noticed that there was a disposition rather to laugh at me than to open the eyes of wonder; and this is a peculiarity of the Chinese which every traveller will be struck with.

It often grieved me.

During my journey, although I was treated with undeniable friendliness, I found that the Chinese, instead of being impressed by my appearance, would furtively giggle when they saw me.