164 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



every price in advance and have had it 

 set down to the "cash" the sum to be paid. 

 However time was passing and no one 

 knew it better than our Chinese creditors 

 who were pressing for immediate payment. 

 As soon as our effects were put on board 

 of the boat we had engaged and we had 

 given the word to weigh anchor the loadah 

 refused to sail unless we paid him fifty 

 cents per day more than the sura we had 

 just agreed upon, which was two dollars 

 and fifty cents per day. Rather than be 

 delayed any longer we added the fifty cents 

 believing that it would compensate for the 

 night work we should require, and finally 

 the boat left her mooring with her bow 

 pointing to the opposite bank of the river. 

 At last we supposed that an actual start 

 had been made for the virgin shooting 

 ofrounds. The current of the river was 

 against us and as we were going up the 

 stream the progress of the boat was very 

 slow, being propelled by two long slender 

 oars used for yulohing. But the surround- 

 ings were interesting. We had never been 

 on the waters of this river, and just before 

 the evening shades the sun streaked the 

 western clouds with o;oklen briehtuess. 



