GG ETU 



the river stopped at Etu, twenty miles below Ichang, 

 which is situated on the bank of a river flowing into the 

 Yana-tze, and which I had on a former occasion ascended 

 for about ten miles in a steam launch. The town stands 

 high up on the right bank, well out of the way of floods, 

 and a considerable trade is carried on with Ichang in 

 the vegetable varnish before mentioned, opium, and 

 garden produce. The banks of the river Etu are rocky 

 and rugged, but every available spot is cultivated. The 

 w^ater (except during floods) is remarkably clear, 

 and the bottom of stones and shingle. On the left bank 

 of the Yang-tze, and nearly opposite to the town of 

 Etu, a branch from the main road from Pekin comes 

 down to the river bank. 



On my return to Ichang I found the boat progress- 

 ing satisfactorily ; but before giving a description of 

 how she was fitted up, I should say that, having heard 

 of the most unsettled state of the country about Chung- 

 king and its humid and unhealthy climate, I decided not 

 to take my wife and little ones up there as I had origin- 

 ally intended, but to send them all home. I therefore 

 arranged for their passage, saw all the packing done, 

 and regretfully saw them off for home on March 22. 



The boat upon which I was to depend so much had 

 now better be more fully described. To commence 

 with the most important part after the hull, which was,. 



