Fishing with Otters 39 



After tiffin, I crossed the river with the Shuiwtr Sze 

 (Commissioner of Customs) to inspect the otter fisheries 

 pecuhar to this place. The opposite shore rises in pyra- 

 midal cliffs, separated by steep narrow valleys which just 

 admit of a landing on the rocks, the conglomerate formation 

 observed lower down shading off here into hard sandstone. 

 Attached to the rocky shore, in a small bay, sheltered some- 

 what from the violence of the current, the fishermen have 

 their otter station. From the bank, and overhanging the 

 water, depend small bamboos, hke fishing-rods, to the 

 extremity of each of which is attached an otter by an 

 iron chain fixed to leather thongs crossed round the animal's 

 chest and immediately behind the shoulders. Some of 

 the animals were playing in the water, swimming as far 

 as the length of their tether would allow them ; others 

 had hung themselves across their bamboos, resting, doubled 

 up, and looking for all the world like otter skins hung 

 up to dry in the sun. When required for use, the fisher- 

 man, after casting his net, which is heavily loaded all round 

 the foot, draws up its long neck to the water level, and 

 inserts the otter through the central aperture ; the otter 

 then routs out the fish from the muddy bottom and rocky 

 crevices, in which they hide. Fish, otter, and net are then 

 all hauled on board together, the otter is released and re- 

 warded, and a fresh cast is made. 



We then ascended the steep valley, at the extremity of 

 which we had landed, and, walking to the other end, 

 mounted a steep narrow sandstone ridge with an equally 

 steep descent on each side. After so many years spent in 

 the plains, I was quite blown when we reached the hilltop, 

 but the ascent from thence up one of the lower peaks was 

 less steep. From the top was one of the finest and most 

 characteristic views I have ever enjoyed in China, unless 



