150 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



Wuhu and about fifty miles inland. Our boat 

 loadahs were not familiar with the country, 

 but before we were aware of the fact they 

 had taken the boats to a place which was 

 not marked on the map and so we did not 

 know where we were. We wanted to 

 enter the upper portion of the Taiping-fu 

 river, travel down it and shoot wildfowl on 

 the way. Fortunately we were near a small 

 town and I suggested to the consul general 

 to send his card to the Chinese magistrate 

 and ask him to supply us with a pilot. 

 Soon the magistrate called and was cordial 

 and courteous in complying with our wishes. 

 Sails were hoisted and with a fair wind the 

 boats were headed towards the Taiping-fu 

 river. But during the night, my boat being 

 the faster sailer, we became separated, and 

 to add to the disappointment the pilot on 

 the boat of the consul general had a different 

 idea as to the proper route to the river than 

 my pilot, and so when we awoke the follow- 

 ing morning neither of our sails could be 

 seen. We had agreed, however, that Wade's 

 island in the Yangtze should be the objec- 

 tive point, and I believed we would meet 

 again. I spent part of the day trying to stalk 

 geese and ducks, hoping that the consul 



