FA-CHOW ISLAND 65 



After o-etting a few ducks only, we went on to Ta-cliow. 

 This island is in great part submerged when the river 

 is high, and is situated near the right bank of the 

 Yang-tze-kiang. There is a passage for native craft 

 between it and the shore at all times, but as the river 

 subsides the sands are very dangerous, being quick, 

 or running, until the water lias drained out of them. 

 They are then hard, and quite safe. 



The island may be from seven to ten miles long, and 

 is sparingly inhabited, there being a few hamlets onl3^ 

 The natives occupy themselves as agriculturists or 

 fishermen, but are all very poor. Numbers of grey 

 geese are seen on the banks, but they are very difficult 

 to approach. At mid-day they may be seen in large 

 flocks resting on the dry sands in the higher parts of 

 the island. At night they go inland to the corn-fields 

 to feed, and do much damage to the crops. Cranes 

 and storks of the same species that were seen at Hope 

 Island were also seen here plentifully, and a small 

 species of turkey buzzard also. Deer occur sparingly 

 on the island, and are not easily shot. They are of a 

 small species. On the bank of the river opposite the 

 island very good pheasant shooting used to be had, 

 but it has now been ruined by the Chinese, w^ho have 

 destroyed the cover. 



We now commenced our return, and on the way up 



P 



