54 



CHAPTEE V 



SHA-SHin AXD PA -CHOW 



Excm-sion to Sha-shih — Large town with considerable trade — Ravages of 

 cholera — Ho-sia — Try to find lakes, but fail — -Trouble at a village — 

 False information — Further insults — Treachery of coolies — Arrival 

 at boat — Sturgeon — Stopped by head wind — AVashing for gold — 

 Tiger's Tooth Gorge — Loss of silver-laden jiuik — Rettu'n to Shanghai 

 with Mrs. Pratt — Purchase cases for collections and duck-guns — Wild- 

 fowl on Yang-tze — Return to Ichang — Floods — Decrease in size of 

 river above Tung-ting Lakes — Arrive at Ichang — Contract for boat 

 to be built — Delay in building — Trip to Pa-chow — Cranes and storks 

 at Hope Island — Geese at Pa-chow — Etn — Return to Ichang^ 

 Departvu-e of Mrs. Pratt and children for England — Description of 

 boat and arrangements on board. 



My collections from Chang-yang were now finally looked 

 over, packed ujd, and despatched home. When this 

 was finished several excursions were made down the 

 river, and such as might interest the reader will be 

 described. 



On November 17, the Consul having kindly offered 

 me the use of his house-boat, I went down to Sha-shih, 

 which is eighty miles from Ichang, and being with the 

 current, the journey was made in one day. I stayed at 

 this place for a few hours, and found two English 

 missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Gulston ; the former kindly 



