+ 
= 
a 
aD: J. Macgowan on the Eagre of the Tsien-Fang. : 
_ © At the upper part of the bay, and about the mouth of the river 
ithe Eagre is scarcely observabte, but owing to the very wee 
descent of the shore, and the rapidity of the great flood and ebb, 
the-tidal phenomena even here present a remarkable appearance. ' 
Vessels, which a few moments before were afloat, are suddenly 
Jef Righ and dry ona strand nearly two miles in width, which 
the r es wave as quickly floods. It is not until the tide 
rushes beyoud the mouth of the river, that it becomes elevated 
toa lofty , wave constituting the Eagre, which attains its greatest 
magnitede opposite the city of Hang-chau. Generally there is 
nothmgs in its aspect, except on the third day of the second — 
_ month, and on the eighteenth of the eighth, or at the spring- -tide 
boyt the period of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, its great 
“ntedsi y being at the latter season. Sometimes, however, during 
“éthe ‘preva ence of easterly winds, on the third day after the sun 
— and moon are in conjunction, or in opposition, the Eagre courses 
up the river with hardly less majesty than when paying its ordi- 
nary periodical visit. On one of these unusnal occasions, when 
_ I was travelling in native costume, I had an hartge ccd of wit- 
- nessing it, on Decem mber 14, 1848, at about 2 p 
Between the river and the city walls, which are a mile distant, 
dense suburbs extend several miles along the banks. As the 1our 
of flood-tide approached, crowds gathered in the streets ronning 
at rightangles with the T’sien-tang, but at safe distances. M 
: position was a terrace in front of the Tri-wave Temple, which | 
afforded a good view of the entire scene. Ou a sudden, all traffic: 
in the eines mart was suspended, porters cleared the front 
_ street of every description of merchandise, boatmen ceased lading 
and wets their vessels, and put out into the middle of the 
stream, ‘so that a few moments sufficed to-give a deserted appear- ~ 
ance to the baibaeae part of one of the busiest cities of Asia. The 
centre of the river teemed with craft, from gmall boats to huge a 
q 
tf 
= 
barges, including the gay “ flower beats ” Lond shouting from 
the "fleet annonneed the appearance of the flood, which seemed 
like a glistening white cable, stretched athwart the river al its — 
mouth, as far down as the eye contd reach. Its noise, compared 
by Chinese poets to that of thunder, speedily drowned that of the — 
boatmen; and as it advanced with prodigious velocity,—at the E 
rate, I should judge, of twenty-five miles an hour,—it assun 
the appearance of au alabaster wall, or rather of a cataract four — 
or "ke miles across, and about thitty feet high, moving bodily 
ward. Soon it reached the advanced guard of the immense 
anctlishaige of vessels awaiting its approach. Knowing that 
‘ Bore of the Hooghly, which scarce deserved mention in connec- : 
tion with the oue before me, invariably overturned boats which — 
were - ay managed, I could not but feel apprehensive for 
the floating multitude: as the — wall of water 
he 
