THE HANGCHOW BORE. 205 



specially commissioned by the British Admiralty to survey the Hangchow Bay in l888, 

 reports "I have no doubt that the crest of the wave attains a height of 15 feet, and 

 continues at that height for a distance of 14 or 15 miles." But estimates of its speed and 

 height are never likely to be in perfect concord, for both are very largely influenced by the 

 force and direction of the wind. Sometimes the Bore approaches the northern margin of the 

 Hangchow Bay from the south, when, of course, it is neither so high or so strong as when 

 the wind blows directly up the funnel from the east. The most convenient place, and 

 probably the best whence to get a view of it is from the Haining, "Calm Sea," Pagoda, 

 which is a six storeyed building, 120 feet high, and 1,000 years old ; but there are those who 

 sing the praises of Chee Baw, "Seventh department," a few miles distant. Now although 

 there are two bores every day for the whole twelve months the best time to see the grand 

 rush of water is on the iSth day of the 8th moon, or three days after the full moon of 

 September, but, as Captain Moore says "it is difficult to see why it should be so any year 

 except when full moon corresponds with perigee." 



Generally speaking the best views of the Bore are obtainable at the vernal and 

 autumnal equinoxes, that is 2lst March and 23rd September. But those who would like to 

 make fuller acquaintance with the majestic phenomenon, and learn when best and how to see 

 it would do well to study a pamphlet * on the subject written by Mr. W. R. Kahler, the genial 

 Editor of the "Union " newspaper, who has made a study of the Hangchow Bore a specialty 

 and his frequent visits to Haining a religion. The pamphlet is vividly illustrated. Fortunate 

 it is from a shooting point of view that the locale is quite close to a very fair snipe feed 

 among the grave mounds at the back of the Haining pagoda, thus enabling the gun to 

 beguile the weary hours waiting for the Bore with a crack at the long-billed bird, and so 

 practically affording him the opportunity of killing two birds with one stone. Hangchow 

 is within a reasonable distance. A night's houseboat journey will find you at the Custom 

 House on the Grand Canal, where the fields, grass lands and covers are favourite 

 snipe and wookcock haunts. Wildfowl, too, drop in from the Bay upon the inland waters, 

 and those who have been in the neighbourhood of the Bore in the winter time say that the 

 full moon lighting up the myriad wildfowl disturbed from their beds on the quiet water 

 by the inrushing tidal wave discloses a spectacle of the uncanniest description made 

 deeply impressionable by the weird wails and shrieking cries of countless birds as they 

 wildly circle through the lucent air. 



The best route to Haining is via Kashing, Haze and Sajow. The boat train will tow 

 your houseboat to Kashing where you may join it after a three hours' railway journey. The 

 distance to Kashing is 240 //, to Haze, 332 //, and to Sajow 350 //. From the latter place 

 to Haining is 20 //*, and houseboats can anchor within a mile of the seawall there. 



The Hangchow Bore in its majestic progress is a sight that should not be missed 

 if the chance be ajfiforded to see it. In the language of Capt. Moore " the regularity of its 

 appearance and shape, the distance at which it is heard by night and seen by day, its 

 charge against the seawall, its speed, height, gleaming front, and thundering roar as it tears 

 past the observer render it, indeed, a most impressive phenomenon." 



*"The Hangchow Bore and How to Get to It." Second Edition. With Eighteen Illustrations, by 

 William B. Kahleb, m.j.i., m.s.a. 



