196 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



covered a channel to have formed, cutting a deep 

 steep-sided trough through what was formerly a mud 

 bank ; and this channel was changing even then so 

 rapidly, that within a month the direction varied 

 as much as twenty-two degrees by the compass a 

 pretty good proof of the changeable character of the 

 navigation of the delta of so mighty a stream. We 

 were a week working our way through these difficul- 

 ties, and approaching the first block of mountain 

 country, round the northern flank of which the 

 Yangstze at last bursts its way to the sea. 



Nov. I6tk. We know that we are approaching the 

 site of that city of Ching-keang, the key of the Great 

 Canal, which in former days made such a respectable 

 defence against our barbarian forces : we remember 

 that we are approaching a piece of scenery which was 

 so gorgeously Chinese, so rich in all the results of 

 their industry and taste, that one peep was enough to 

 repay the navigator or traveller for the difficulty in 

 reaching it. The Lee and Dove, with their boilers 

 out of working condition, had to be taken in tow of 

 the Retribution, to allow their engineers to clear and 

 refit ; and the Cruiser, too slow to keep company 

 when we wanted to make up lost time, hung on by 

 the stern of the Furious, and, thus leashed together, 

 we slashed away merrily under the bluffs of Kuen- 

 shan, recognising many a pagoda and many a spot 

 seen long ago in the pretty little Columbine. The 

 day was just such as to enjoy the beautiful scenery, 



