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CHAPTER XII. 



THE HOUSEBOAT. 



THAT the ideal houseboat has not yet been evolved, although it is close on fifty years 

 since the first foreign built boat for shooting purposes was designed, is clearly 

 evidenced in the heterogeneous character of the craft which may be seen in the Soochow 

 Creek to-day. There they are in their numbers, as dissimilar in length, breadth and 

 shapeliness as could well be imagined, and though the present tendency is to build still 

 larger and more costly boats the fact has yet to be made patent that these larger craft are 

 either more comfortable or more useful than their predecessors of years long past. 



In the Sportsman's Diary, published in 1873, the late Mr. Groom, whose up-country 

 experience was unique, and who took the personal trouble to measure any number of native 

 boats and bridges, laid it down that while "no three men agree about the dimensions, build 

 and fittings most suitable for a perfect houseboat, yet the closest regard should be paid to 

 the fact that no shooting boat should exceed 45 feet in length over all or 10 feet in breadth over 

 all. If these dimensions are exceeded great difficultes will be experienced when up-country 

 in passing under bridges, turning the boat, and in navigating the small creeks." And while 

 we know, as matters of fact, that the bridges have grown no higher or wider since those 

 days, nor the creeks broader or deeper, yet we find these dimensions now not only generally 

 but very much exceeded, with the consequence that the " palaces stupendous " of this year 

 of grace are denied access to many a picturesque and inviting waterway. Here are 

 particulars, furnished by the builders, of a few of many boats completed within the last year 

 or two, showing the growth in dimensions. 



Length over all. Breadth over all 



49 feet II ft. 6 in. 



53 feet 12 ft. 6 in. 



56 feet 12 ft. 9 in. 



Besides these there are motor houseboats varying in length from 53 feet to 62 feet 

 9 in. Length must naturally be a great drawback, for as is well known the subsidiary creek 

 invariably meets the large waterway at right angles, which necessitates a very abrupt 

 turning and often a good deal of trouble. 



Then, again, as regards the question of expense. Mr. Groom put down the cost of 

 shooting boats as varying from Tls. 250 to Tls. lOOO. In 1880 two well known boats, the 

 Pearl and the Brema built in 1879 and 1880 respectively, are stated by the late Mr. C. J. 

 Ashley to have cost only Tls. 500 and Tls. 636. But now Tls. 2000 would be considered a 



