192 Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



The " Egeria " was at the time laying at the " Senior Officer's 

 buoy," off the Shanghai bund ; and all who have ever visited the 

 port will doubtless know, that the tide race in the river here during 

 the ebb, is something tremendous. One Monday morning, the 

 ship's company were going through the customary sail drills, when 

 a topman in endeavouring to be doubly smart, lost his foothold, and 

 fell headlong from the fore topmast crosstrees (aheight of about 

 eighty feet) : luckily for his life, instead of falling on the hard and 

 almost always fatal deck, he struck the rigging and bounced over- 

 board. My friend seeing the accident occur, immediately sprang 

 off the gangway after the bluejacket, to lend him a hand if necessary, 

 and was followed into the water by a friendly Captain of the 

 Fo'castle ; but no swimmer however powerful, could have breasted 

 those swirling waters : and the rescuers and their charge were 

 rapidly carried down stream towards the greatly feared, and 

 treacherous " chow-chow " (whirlpool) water made by the strong 

 stream rushing round a particularly sharp bend of the river just 

 opposite the American Concession. 



Now follows the sequel ! The Wardroom-mess boatman, 

 happened to be laying astern in his sampan, hanging on to the stern 

 ladder ; and although he saw the whole incident take place, it was 

 with the greatest difficulty that he could be prevailed upon to 

 drop his boat, and render assistance to the now exhausted swimmers : 

 and even when he reached the trio, he would only admit of 



