24 Throtigh the Yang-tse Gorges 



appeared to rise up before us. We are approaching Shasze 

 from behind, the front proper being to the Yang-tse, on 

 and in the rear of the embanking dyke on which the town 

 is erected. Tliis dyke is twenty-five feet above the level 

 of the country, which is here all below the level of the Yang- 

 tse waters both in winter and summer. As in Hankow, 

 to which in its situation and in its trade Shasze is in many 

 respects analogous, the business and bustle is along the 

 river-front, and the country-side is dull and lifeless. The 

 total distance from Hankow by this inland, partly canalized, 

 route is 2 20 miles, the distance by the river being 300. This 

 channel is called by the Chinese the " Pien H8," or accommo- 

 dation river, the common term for a short cut on water. 

 We moored alongside the bank just below a stone bridge, 

 100 yards long, but with only two small arches in it, being 

 on the inside of the dyke slope, which was covered with 

 graves sheltered by a few fir-trees. I went for a short stroll, 

 but the mob was so troublesome that I could see nothing, 

 so returned to my boat, and shut myself up in the cabin (all 

 my people were ashore arranging for a boat to take us on 

 to Chung-king) ; but a rain of mud and stones, the latter 

 fortunately scarce in this alluvial plain, summoned me to 

 show myself. My people arrived at length, and expostulated 

 with the crowd, which, however, did not disperse till after 

 dark. 



Sunday, March 11th. — "Under Heaven" — i.e. "in all 

 the world," by which is understood, the Empire of China — 

 Shasze is the Chen (trading-place), Hankow the Kou 

 (river's mouth or port) ; and Shanghai the Hsien (district 

 city) par excellence. Shashe, or, as it is usually spelt, Sha sze, 

 means, literally translated, " Sand-market," which probably 

 designates the origin of the place. The " Market on 

 the Sands " probably sprang up on one of the numerous 



