We left together on foot, my man still maintaining a crescendo conversation with the inn people till well away.
When almost out of hearing he called out something and an answer came faintly back from the distance.

It was his ultimatum as regards price and its acceptance--they had been bargaining all the time.

My man motioned to me to wait, said the one word "_chiaodza_" (sedan chair) and in a few moments the chair of bamboo and wicker came rapidly down the road carried by two bearers.

They put down the chair before me and bowed to me; I took my seat and was borne easily and pleasantly along at four miles an hour at a charge of less than one penny a mile.
My men received nearly 400 cash a day each; but from time to time they sweated their contract to unemployed coolies and had their loads carried for so little as sixty cash (one penny halfpenny), for two-thirds of a day's journey.
At nightfall we always reached some large village or town where my cook selected the best inn for my resting place, the best inn in such cases being usually the one which promised him the largest squeeze.

All the towns through which the road passes swarm with inns, for there is an immense floating population to provide for.