IU-TAN RAPID 36 
low, swampy banks, the river is here confined by 
mountains and precipices. The towing path is now 
confined to one side of the river only, and sometimes 
has to be cut out of the face of a cliff. In the course 
of a few hours I reached the village of Pin-san-pa, where 
oranges are cultivated by the natives. This is a small 
Le-kin, or Custom House station, where native boats are 
examined. After a short stay the journey up the river 
was resumed, and Shi-pi-san was soon reached. This 
is a village about fifteen miles from Ichang, situated on 
the right bank of the river, and at the upper extremity 
of the gorge. , 
The river here takes a sharp bend to the northward, 
and from this point may be seen a range of mountains 
to the southward and away from the river, which 
I ascended when on another expedition, but found too 
much cultivated ground to make it a good collecting 
station. The first night was passed here, and starting 
the next morning at 5.30, the bend of the river was 
followed round, and the same precipitous banks were 
found, which in some places were very prettily covered 
with vegetation, among which ferns were conspicuous, 
till, at 3 p.m., the Mu-tan Rapid was reached, which is 
remarkable only as being the first on the river. Track- 
ing on till dark, a small village was reached, where the 
boat was secured for the night. 
p2 
