230 



BAPID TBAVELLING 



in the Wu-slian Gorge l)eino- reported, as too dangerous 

 for my boats to pass through. The river, however, fell 

 during the day and night, and we were able to proceed,, 

 but found the stream in the gorge still very violent. 

 The wrecks of two junks were passed in it, the crews 

 being busy saving what they could from them. 



At Mu-kan-tan, the worst rapid in the river, when 

 it is at this height, was passed, the boat being tossed 

 about like a cork among the immense whirlpools. 

 Below it, many junks were waiting for the river to fall, 

 the ascent being now impossible. The Sin-tan and Ta- 

 tung rapids I found to be perfectly smooth but the 

 current very strong, the river being fifteen feet higher 

 than when I passed down last year. 



Ichang was reached on September 25, the journey 

 down the river from Chung- king, a distance of four 

 hundred, miles, having been made in fifty hours and 

 forty-five minutes, as will be seen by the time-table 

 below, the journey up having taken twenty-two days. 



60 45 



