TRANSACTIONS OF THi: SECTIONS. 173 



On the JJistributioH of Coal la China. By Barou von llicuiuoFtN. 



Survey for a Telegraph-line between Berber and Houakiin. 

 By Captain Eokeby, E.E. 



On Trade-routes in Persia. By Major St. John. 



On the Livingstone East-Coast Aid Expedition, By Major Evan ISurrK. 



A few Notes on the Trade of the East-African Coast. 

 By Major Evan Smith. 



T7ie Gorges and Rapids of the Upper Yangtsze. 

 By J. TnoMsow, F.B.G.S. 



Mr. Thomson ascended the Yangtsze in the beginning of 1872, having for his 

 companions two gentlemen, Captains of steamers in the China trade. The party 

 left I-Chang (a city on the left bank of the river, about 1100 English miles above 

 Shanghai) on the 7th of February. They engaged a native boat with a crew of 

 twenty-four men, and proceeded to ascend through the gorges of the Upper 

 Yangtsze. The river was at its lowest, and in the I-Chang gorge (which is entered 

 foui'teeu miles above the city) the great river was left, in many places, with a 

 waterway of only 100 yards wide between gigantic walls of rock. Mr. Thomson 

 next pi'oceeded to describe the appearance of the I-Chang, Lupan, Mitan, and 

 Wushan gorges, and the difficulties and dangers to be encountered in the future 

 steam-navigation of this section of the Upper Yangtsze, where there are many 

 rapids interspersed with jagged rocks, on which the native trading-boats are 

 frequently worked. The most formidable rapid was below the village of Isingtan, 

 at the mouth of the Mitan gorge, where it was customary with the Chinese traders, 

 before making the ascent, to unload their boats and have the cargo carried overland 

 to the top of the rapid. The grandeur of the mountain- and river-scenery at this 

 part of the journey was minutely described, as well as the appearance presented by 

 the rapid. The author was here aided by the valuable accessoiy of a large photo- 

 graph, which he had taken on the spot. This and other pictures were obtained at 

 some personal risk, as Mr. Thomson was stoned and otherwise treated as a veiy 

 rare and dangerous tj'pe of " Yang-quitsz " (foreign devil), who had come among 

 them with his picture-taking instrument to extract the secrets out of heaven and 

 earth. Fond mothers seized their children and carried them awav, as it was popu- 

 larly believed that the solutions used in taking the pliotographs were made out of 

 the tender eyes of Chinese childi-en. In the open spaces between the gorges the 

 temperature was found to be several degrees lower than in the mountain-clefts 

 which form the gorges. The rapid of Isingtan was running about nine knots, "and 

 yet the Chinese traders iiud no obstacle in this, or indeed in any of the other 

 rapids of the Yangtsze, to the carrying on of a lucrative trade with large-sized 

 cargo-boats." These boats, and their appliances for warding oft" danger, were badly 

 constructed. Mr. Thomson argues that if the Chinese can do all this, we, with 

 science, suitable steamers, and pluck, can do more. . " Let the river be opened, and 

 its successful steam-navigation will follow." 



Some interesting details were furnished regarding the working of coal-mines in 

 the province of Hupeh. Several mines were visited ; and Mr. Thomson succeeded 

 in taking a series of photographs of Chinese coal-mining The paper concluded 

 with au account of the ascent of the Wushan gorge. 



