6 HANKOW 



and it is here that all the Imperial ware is manufactured. 

 It is hardly necessary to say anything about the town 

 of Kiu-kiang, as it is a place comparatively well known 

 to Europeans. The inhabitants are celebrated for their 

 skill as silversmiths, and turn out much beautiful work 

 which is highly prized by Europeans. During my stay 

 I experienced much kindness at the hands of Mr. Wavell 

 of the Imperial Chinese Customs. 



On August 4 I left for Hankow and arrived on the 

 6th. The scenery ascending the river is flat and un- 

 interesting, and nothing noteworthy was seen. Hankow 

 is the great centre of the tea trade, and possesses the 

 finest bund in China. As usual, however, as in most 

 other towns on the Yang-tze, during floods the streets 

 and bund are under water, and communication has to 

 be made from house to house by sampans. I here 

 obtained from H.M. Consul the necessary passport for 

 the provinces of Hu-peh and Sze-chuen. 



A delay of three days was caused by the steamers 

 not running in connection with each other, and during 

 this time Mr. and Mrs. Armour were most kind to 

 Mrs. Pratt, my children, and myself. Had it not been 

 for their hospitality we should have experienced great 

 inconvenience from the mosquitoes and the heat. The 

 s.s. Kiang-tung took us to Ichang, where we arri^-ed 

 on August 14. The river being now high, no difliculty 



