while the females, as shy as they were cautious,
looked through gates or peeped over walls to enjoy
the sight. A few indeed of the ancient dames
almost dipped their feet into the river to get a
nearer peep."



244 CHINA AND THE CHINESE

It was at Zhehol, about fifty miles north of the
Great Wall, where the Emperor had a summer
palace, that he consented to receive the ambassador,
who was lodged, whilst waiting for the final arrange-
ments to be made, at Yuen-min-Yuen, about seven
miles from the capital. A serious hitch occurred
in the absolute refusal of Lord Macartney to per-
form what is known as the ko-too, an act of
homage always exacted from a vassal by his liege
lord, consisting of nine prostrations at his feet.
