163 DAVIS ON THE YANG-TSE-KEANG. [March 28, 1859. 



rivers, which can never be better exemplified than by the Yang-tse-keang ; and 

 I hope future navigators will continue to make ©bservations upon the changes 

 which take place, as they will prove highly interesting to geographers. 



Mr. Lewis Carr, of the United States, and recently Assistant-Secretary 

 of the American Legation in China. — I feol very highly complimented, Sir, 

 at being called upon to participate in this discussion, but can scarcely hope to 

 impart anything either of interest or novelty to the paj^er by Mr. Oliphant 

 which has been read this evening. Nor am I unaware that there are present 

 here this evening many distinguished officers of H. M.'s service and others, 

 whose opportunities of observation in those waters have been much greater 

 than my own, and who are prepared to address the Society. I am also 

 "without any notes of our trip up the river, having only been apprised this day 

 of the subject that was to occupy your attention, and am therefore quite 

 unprepared to speak otherwise than in a very desultory manner. It would be 

 difficult to eulogise too highly the recent very successful expedition up this 

 splendid river, an enterprise that reflects so much credit upon Lord Elgin, as 

 also upon the officers of H. M.'s Navy. 



It was my good fortune in the year 1854 to ascend the Yang-tse in a 

 very large American man-of-war, under the command of Captain Franklin 

 Buchannan, of the U. S. Navy. We are sometimes called a boastful people, 

 and, perhaps, it is something to boast of, that the largest ship that ever 

 ascended the Yang-tse-keang as far as Hu-hu was the U. S. steam-frigate 

 Siisquehannay of 3000 tons, and drawing, I believe, 23 feet water. She was 

 also the first vessel that ever disturbed the waters of this noble stream above 

 Nanking. 



I was attached to the American embassy in China in the year 1854, with 

 His Excellency' Robert M. M'Lane, and the Susquehanna having been placed 

 at his disposal by our Government, he availed himself of the opportunity to 

 ascend the river, more especially to ascertain something of the rebels who 

 then held possession of it at Nanking and above. It was not the good fortune 

 of Mr. M'Lane to have placed at his disposal such a squadron as accompanied 

 Lord Elgin, nor to have had from his Government such entire carte-Uanclie, 

 or perhaps the recent explorations of this river might have been anticipated. 

 It was, in fact, with much apprehension that Captain Buchannan made the 

 attempt at all ; he feared the shallowness of the stream would embarrass him, 

 as well he might, with a ship of that size, and all her armament on board. 

 But after some little time he procured such information as could be obtained 

 at Shanghae, and we left that place on May 22, 1854. Our experience in 

 ascending the river may be made useful, inasmuch as the water was then 

 almost at its highest. In entering the mouth, I have particular occasion to 

 remember and to verify the truth of the remarks made by Captain Collinson, 

 that it is almost impossible to get any bearings whatever ; therefore, a 

 nautical man must depend a great deal upon his good judgment. We were 

 accompanied by a small steam-tender, which was of course of very great aid. 

 After passing the mouth of the stream, the first difficulty we encountered was 

 at a place called Blonde Shoal, which, if there are any officers in the expedi- 

 tion of 1842 present, they will remember. That was the most serious diffi- 

 culty that we encountered. I believe it was so called from the name of an 

 English vessel of war that ascended the river. This shoal, I think, is about 

 10 or 15 miles from the mouth. As we passed there very careful soundings 

 were made, and the Susquehanna just touched as she passed over the shoal. 

 The result was deemed very gratifying, for that was supposed to be one of 

 the most serious difficulties. We encountered very little trouble after that 

 until we came to the Langshaug crossing, at a very large bend in the river. 

 U|X)n approaching " Silver Island " we met the Imperial fleet. The ship was 

 saluted by the entire squadron, which was promptly returned by the Susque- 



