[ isi J 



CHAPTEE XXll— Continued. 



YANGTZE NOTES. 



CHINKIANG. 



By O. G. Eeady, B.A. 

 /. M. Customs. 



/^HINKIANG is undoubtedly the prettiest place on the river below Hankow. The Silver 



^ Island Pass with its narrow and difficult channel, its great rush of waters, its overhanging 



cliffs and bristling forts is justly called the "Gate of the Yangtze." Silver Island itself 



with its ancient temples, its fine trees and magnificent view is one of the most attractive 



spots in China. From the summit of the hill a good idea of the neighbourhood can be 



gained. On the north a low-lying plain interspersed with trees stretches to the horizon, and 



on a clear day the pagoda of Yangchow (a city associated with the name of Marco Polo) 



may be discerned. To the eastward lies a labyrinth of islands and waterways, all of which 



appertain to the Yangtze, the main stream of which bends to the south-east, passing the 



entrance to the southern portion of the Grand Canal at Tant'u {jf ^). On the south rise 



various ranges of hills, reaching to nearly 1,000 feet. To the west the mighty river possesses 



a very busy and beautiful aspect. On the right bank classical Kaolishan ('fl* ^ Ul), with its 



newly restored temple and the remains of its famous iron pagoda, juts sharply up. The 



native city and foreign settlement, overshadowed by hills, line the water's edge, and Golden 



Island with its temples and pagoda forms a weird background to the harbour and shipping. 



On the left bank hundreds of junks from various provinces are at anchor, and a few miles 



beyond at Kuachow the entrance to the northern portion of the Grand Canal can be seen. 



Sails of native craft thickly dot the broad face of the river and the setting sun illumines 



a scene altogether charming. To the sportsman Chinkiang still offers many attractions, 



although game now in 1895, is not nearly so abundant as it was a few years since. 



Pig. — The wild-pig had of late quite disappeared from this neighbourhood. The natives 



give two reasons : first, that during a very severe winter about seven years ago the 



ground was frozen so hard that the animals were not able to unearth the wild roots on 



which, after the crops had been gathered in, they were wont to subsist ; second, that a 



disease appeared amongst them and that their dead bodies were found in great 



numbers on the hillsides. Certain it is that, whereas during a few years Mr. F. Carnie 



killed somewhere near lOO, now not a trace of a pig is to be found within a radius of 



10 miles. 



