316 
“The usual 
tracking, a 
“The width of the river Min, and the fact that the only availa 
channel was often separated from the shore by jagged projections 
of rocks, rendered this operation one of considerable difficulty, set 
the highly specialized devices which have been evolved, te es 
by centuries of combat with these natural difficulties, are interes ri 
to see. In the first place, the hemp ropes used largely in ere 0 
other purposes have proved quite useless for tracking because t 
would be frayed through in a very short time when strained, as 
often necessary, oyer the rough granite rocks in the river bed. : 
“The rope that is used is made of thin strips of bamboo with the 
means of progression of the passenger boat was by 
about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, Shouid this aig 4 
bruised by an accident during the day, the injured strips th 
replaced by new ones threaded into _ 
rope exactly in their place. It will give some idea of the streng : 
of this tow rope when I say that the weight of 30 men pulling a 
one end was not sufficient to break it. ee 
“I have been unable, so far, to identify the bamboo which 18 
used in the manufacture of the tow ropes. It is called * Mieng 
Deuk’ i en.” 
With regard to the manufact 
of the Chinese Imperial C 
‘t. Dunn under date October 12, 1490 
“T have often seen the men making the plaited bamboo at Wahu 
on the Ya i 
, ngtze. The piait looks like what sailors call ‘ are 
sennit ’ or “coach-whipping,’ which is made with any even numbe 
