The Naval College is
inside surrounded by a moat and wall. I thought to myself, if the
cadet here is like to the thing I used to be at the U. S. N. A. _that_
won't keep him in. I went through a lot of yards till I was ushered
into a room finished in black ebony and was greeted very warmly
by the Director. We took seats on a raised platform--Chinese style
and pretty soon an interpreter came, one of the Chinese professors,
who was educated abroad, and we talked and drank tea. He said I
had done well, that he had the authority of the Viceroy to take me
there as 'Professor' of seamanship and gunnery; in addition I might
be required to teach navigation or nautical astronomy, or drill the
cadets in infantry, artillery, and fencing. For this I was to receive
what would be in our money $1,800 per annum, as near as we can
compare it, paid in gold each month. Besides, I will have a house
furnished for my use, and it is their intention, as soon as I _show_
that I _know_ something, to considerably increase my pay. They
asked the Viceroy to give me 130 T per month (about $186) and
house, but the Viceroy said I was _but a boy_; that I had seen no
years and had only come here a week ago with no one to vouch for
me, and that I might turn out an impostor. But he would risk 100 T
on me anyhow, and as soon as I was reported favorably on by the
college I would be raised--the agreement is to be for three years.
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