George Chinnery was one of those people who become a fixture in a place. Up until his death in Macao in 1852, he was sort out in his studio by residents and visitors to Macao and Canton alike, both for his great art, and his entertaining friendship. Chinnery made his name in the art world first in British India, and from 1825, in China. He left an unparalleled legacy of portraits of British, Indian and Chinese people in the far east of the early 19th C, and of memorable views and scenes of Bunds and buildings, lascars and their boats, ports, street life, right down to the goats which seemed to feature in so many of his drawings. He also left a legacy of stories and encounters, recorded by many a visitor, and still with life today.

One such collection of anecdotes can be found in the final pages of William C Hunter’s 1885 book Bits of Old China. It was come upon unexpectedly, and while not unknown, seems too good not to have a new airing. It can be read here..