CHUNG-KING 227 



bamboo rafts which were familiar sights further up the 

 river. They appear to be extensively used for the 

 transport of the spirit, the jars containing it being stowed 

 in a single row for nearly the whole length. 



I landed, but the conduct of the natives rendered it 

 prudent for me to return on board as soon as possible. 



Chung-king is 230 li further down, and was reached 

 at 2 P.M. the following day without anything occurring 

 worthy of notice, except that one of the large huloes 

 broke when the boat was in a dangerous place. Luckily 

 no accident occurred, but there was no spare one on 

 board as there always should be. 



I found Mr. Cockburn, the British Eesident, still 

 here, his successor, Mr. Fulford, having been wrecked 

 on his passage up, and being now forced to return to 

 Hankow and wait for the river to fall. 



Owing to the high, changeable and dangerous state 

 •of the river — it rose fifteen feet in one day during my 

 •jenforced stay — I was not able to leave for some days, 

 .and while thus delayed, I was most kindly entertained, 

 as on former occasions, by Mr. Cockburn, and I had 

 also the pleasure of the society of several Europeans, 

 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, English missionaries, and Dr. and 

 Mrs. Cameron. The Doctor had, some years ago, made 

 a journey to Bhamo unaccompanied by any other Euro- 

 pean. While I was here, two French missionaries came 



q2 



