'WEIGEBEN' BOAT 87 



operations are frequently seen. A run of sixty li was- 

 made to-day, and the distance from Chung-king is now 

 reduced to 345 li. The country is well cultivated 

 about here — cereals, pulse, tobacco, fruit, and poppies 

 being grown. The district is well populated, and the 

 inhabitants seem to be fairly well off. 



April IG. — Started at daylight with a light favour- 

 able breeze, and passed Fu-chau at 4 p.m. Here the 

 Kliian river joins the Yang-tze-kiang, flowing down from 

 the province of Quei-chau, which is one of the poorest 

 and wildest in the Empire. Its rocky and rugged surface 

 admits of but httle cultivation, but it is probably rich 

 in minerals. The halt for the night was made twenty 

 li above Fu-chau. 



On April 17 there was no wind at starting and a 

 strong current. Only thirty-five li were made, and it 

 rained in the evening. 



April 18. — Heavy rain to-day. A head wind and 

 current so stronsr that the trackers were unable to make 

 way against it. At 4 p.m. the weather moderated, and, 

 a start was made. After proceeding slowly for half an 

 hour, I was surprised by hearing a cry from my men 

 of a ' weigeren ' boat — that is to say, a boat contain-, 

 ing an Enghsh man or men. On looking astern I saw 

 a smaU. boat flying a pecuhar flag, which was evidently 

 at first glance not Chinese. I stopped to allow it to-, 



