On this his
people desisted, and he sent them to the English factory to assist in
securing the Company's treasure and effects, as it was easy to foresee
that no distance was a protection against the rage of such a fire, where
so little was done to put a stop to it; for all this time the Chinese
contented themselves with viewing it and now and then holding one of
their idols near it, which they seemed to expect should check its
progress. However, at last a mandarin came out of the city, attended by
four or five hundred firemen. These made some feeble efforts to pull down
the neighbouring houses, but by this time the fire had greatly extended
itself, and was got amongst the merchants' warehouses, and the Chinese
firemen, wanting both skill and spirit, were incapable of checking its
violence, so that its fury increased upon them, and it was feared the
whole city would be destroyed. In this general confusion the Viceroy
himself came thither, and the Commodore was sent to and was entreated to
afford his assistance, being told that he might take any measures he
should think most prudent in the present emergency. And now he went
thither a second time, carrying with him about forty of his people, who
upon this occasion exerted themselves in such a manner as in that country
was altogether without example. For they were rather animated than
deterred by the flames and falling buildings amongst which they wrought,
so that it was not uncommon to see the most forward of them tumble to the
ground on the roofs and amidst the ruins of houses which their own
efforts brought down with them.
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