1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 387 



with disagreeable consequences, begged us to retire 

 into the cabin below. 



The breadth of the river above these forts is 

 variable, the banks being low and flat, and subject 

 to be overflowed by the tide to a great extent. The 

 ground on each side is level, and laid out in rice 

 fields ; but, as we advanced, it rose gradually into 

 hills of considerable declivity, the sides of which are 

 cut into terraces, and planted with sweet potatoes, 

 sugar-canes, yams, plantains, and the cotton-tree. 

 We saw many lofty pagodas, scattered over the 

 country, and several towns at a distance, some of 

 which appeared to be of a considerable size. 



We did not arrive at Wampu, which is only nine 

 leagues from the Bocca Tygris, till the 18th, our 

 progress having been retarded by contrary winds 

 and the lightness of the vessel. Wampu is a small 

 Chinese town, off which the ships of the different 

 nations who trade here lie, in order to take in their 

 lading. The river, higher up, is said by M. Sonnerat 

 not to be deep enough to admit heavy laden vessels, 

 even if the policy of the Chinese had suffered the 

 Europeans to navigate them up to Canton ; but this 

 circumstance I cannot take upon me to decide on, 

 as no stranger I believe has been permitted to inform 

 himself with certainty of the truth. The small 

 islands that lie opposite to the town, are allotted to 

 the several factories who have built warehouses for 

 the reception of the merchandise that is brought 

 down from Canton. 



From Wampu I immediately proceeded in a 

 sampane, or Chinese boat, to Canton, which is about 

 two leagues and a half higher up the river. These 

 boats are the neatest and most convenient for pas- 

 sengers I ever saw. They are of various sizes, almost 

 flat at the bottom, very broad upon the beam, and 

 narrow at the head and stern, which are raised and 

 ornamented ; the middle, where we sat, was arched 



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