June 1854 Whampoa Reach June 24th The "Nancook" arrived and anchored astern of us. The Commodore and several of the Vincennes' officers went on board of her after breakfast, taking this opportunity of going to Canton. I accompanied this party. We reached Canton in two or three hours, grounding at the mud once or twice during the passage. I was much disappointed in the appearance of the city; the suburbs crowded upon the walls so as to render the whole an irregular mass of ugly Chinese houses of two stories in height. June 25th We took a trip in a Chinese pulling boat, through the "boat-town" consisting of a large collection of family-boats, or arks, permanently moored in the river a little above the factories, and laid out into streets or narrow canals. In the afternoon we returned in a Nung-boat to the ship. June 26th to July 3rd I made but few zoological excursions, for reasons formerly stated, and made here scarce any additions to the collections. A small shell of the genus Briessenia was found and a few reptiles. The heat is now so great that one can scarce work at all, much less go about collecting in the hot sun. So both Mr. Wright and myself remain unemployed in our particular business, and are forced to resort to reading or study. July 4th Some of the American clippers anchored near us dressed ship today in fine style, and fired salutes. The Schooner still lies near us, the Nancook is at Canton, where her officers receive scarce any attentions from the American merchants there. July 5th - 19th My time is chiefly spent in study, and in searching the library for books of voyages and travels, to make extracts of all relating to Zoology. The American steamer Queen came down from Canton and took up to that place about 100 of our men and some officers to assist in the protection of the factories in case of an outbreak. The rebels are rapidly approaching the place. The Commodore went up the