64 HOPE ISLAND 



remembered, I had gone up to the Sin-tan Eapids before, 

 and was able to see the amount of knocking about a 

 boat might have to go through. She was only to 

 draw about two feet of water when fully loaded, and 

 to be fitted for ascending all the rapids that might be 

 met with. 



Having seen the boat fairly started in building, I 

 was able to take a trip down the river to an island 

 called Pa-chow, about thirty miles from Ichang. I 

 went with Mr. Montgomery in his boat, and having the 

 duck-guns with us as well as the smaller bores, we got at 

 Swain's Shoal, within sight of the town, a shot with one 

 of the former, which resulted in bagging five teal and 

 two ducks. Proceeding further down we got to Hope 

 Island, which is from four to five miles long, with ponds 

 in the centre, but having no cover to speak of. It is 

 frequented by wild-fowl of many species, but more es- 

 pecially by a very large species of crane, one of which 

 I was anxious to secure as a specimen. In this I was 

 disappointed, for it seemed impossible to get within 

 range on such flat ground. This crane, and also a stork 

 marked in a very striking manner with black and 

 white, were frequently seen on various parts of the 

 river in this district, but, often as I tried, I was unable 

 to obtain a specimen of either. On the island were to 

 be seen many cranes, storks, pelicans, and eagles. 



