€2 GONTBACT FOB BOAT 



volume very much, after passing the entrance, and 

 though I made every endeavour to find out something 

 about the district in which they are situated, I failed to 

 get any reliable information. That an enormous trade 

 takes place through tliem is evident ; but as far as I 

 could find out, they liad not been explored to their 

 southern limits by any European for many years, if 

 ever, and the rivers running into them run from the 

 province of Quei-chow, nearly touching the borders of 

 Quang-si and Quang-tung. This is irrespective of the 

 province of Hoo-nan, in which the lakes are situated, 

 so it is evident that they form a road to the Yang- 

 tze- kiang from at least four large provinces. 



On my arrival at Ichang, I commenced by trying 

 to find a boat suitable for my purpose to ascend to 

 Kia-ting-fu, and having sufficient room for the storage 

 of collections, &c. It was soon evident that nothing 

 was to be bought that was in any way desirable, and I 

 had no intention of hiring, as I wished on arrival at 

 the town mentioned to discharge the greater part of 

 the crew, and keep the boat afloat as a sort of base to 

 which I could send my things as fast as they were col- 

 lected. Nothing remained, then, but to have such a boat 

 as I required built, and as soon as possible I had rough 

 specifications drawn up, and asked contractors to give 

 a price. After a fortnight this was to all appearance 



