March 28, 1859.] DAVIS ON THE YANG-TSE-KEANG. 169 



hanna ; and the Admiral in command came on board, and in a long con- 

 sultation earnestly impressed upon Mr. M'Lane the propriety of the Susque- 

 hanna taking part in the contest that was then raging. The rebels had 

 possession of the forts at Chih-kiang-fu, and the Admiral was very anxious 

 that we should bring the ship up and aid the Imperialists in silencing those 

 batteries. This was, of course, declined ; he was assured that the Government 

 of the States would be entirely neutral in the civil strife now extending itself 

 over the empire. We encountered no other difficulty so far as the navigation 

 of the river itself was concerned, and from that moment we went on with as 

 much ease and safety as a ship of that size could go into any river in the 

 world. The waters were very high, and, as has been observed by Sir John. 

 Davis this evening, it enabled us to see the surrounding country for miles. It 

 seemed to be teeming with luxuriance — that is, before we reached the directions 

 of the rebels. Upon approaching the forts of 6hin-kiang-fu, a shot was fired 

 at the vessel. She was stopped immediately abreast of the batteries, and 

 orders were given to clear the ship for action ; and a deputation was sent to 

 inquire into the circumstances. The officers in command assured us that 

 it was an accident, but at the same time they stated that it was very unwise 

 to attempt going up the river, as their party had possession of it. They 

 rather expostulated with us, but we intimated that the ship would go on. 

 Notice was accordingly sent on to Nanking. No other hostile proceedings 

 towards us were shown at Nanking : we anchored off the city, and remained 

 there a few days. I remember going on shore, and making a visit to the far 

 famed city. All was ruin and dilapidation, and it bore no resemblance to 

 what one could have supposed Nanking to be. The appearance of the place 

 was melancholy indeed ; such desolation and misery everywhere observable, 

 sufficiently told the tale of the recent disturbances. A more perfect burlesque 

 on a military organisation can scarcely be imagined than the troops within 

 the works presented ; a motley crowd of men and half-grown boys had entire 

 possession of all the water batteries that command the river at this point. I 

 saw nothing that a company of marines could not have disposed of in half 

 an hour. 



After a few days at Nanking we proceeded as far as Wu-hu, one of the 

 largest market-towns on the river, about 100 miles above Nanking. The city 

 was visited by many of the officers ; it is enclosed by a wall, and is said to 

 have had, before the rebellion, a half million of inhabitants. Its trade at 

 that time was entirely interrupted by the revolution, and the same scene of 

 desolation was observed as at Chin-kiang and Nanking. This city is par- 

 ticularly alluded to by Sir John Davis in his work. We felt anxious to go 

 thus far, inasmuch as it was described to be a place of some commercial im- 

 portance. At this point the river was some 4 or 5 miles wide, and the stream 

 deep, and there seemed to be no obstacle to going on as far as we thought 

 proper. But upon a consultation it was deemed wise to return, and we did so. 

 In descending the river, as we had no obstacles to apprehend, the ship made 14 

 knots an hour a good part of the way down, which shows how bold the river 

 was and how readily it may be navigated. Whilst at Wu-hu we discovered 

 coal in considerable abundance, obtained from a mountain 20 miles distant. 

 It was a kind of semi-bituminous coal. From its appearance it occurred to 

 me that it might be made very serviceable in the navigation of the river. 

 We descended and reached Shanghae in safety, having been absent a fortnight. 

 I would venture to make an additional remark touching the very great im- 

 portance we should attach to these recent explorations in opening up the com- 

 mercial advantages of the river. I am fully impressed with the belief that 

 the river can be navigated as easily and as readily by steamers such as we 

 use on the Mississippi, as the Mississippi itself. All it needs is steamers of that 

 build, drawing 3 or 4 feet of water, and propelled by side- wheels. The state 



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