386 LU-KAN GORGE 
On proceeding the next morning the Ta-tung Rapid 
was reached and safely passed, it not being very diffi- 
cult in the low state of the river, but is dangerous when 
the water is rising, and also when it is high. The river 
here widens out considerably, and most of the dangers 
of the rapids were exposed, many of the huge granite 
boulders being twenty feet above the water. These are 
entirely submerged in the spring and summer, and a 
curious thing to be noticed here, as well as at other 
rapids on the river, is the way in which deep scores are 
cut and large holes worn in the hard rocks, the former 
by the bamboo tracking ropes of generations of boat- 
men, and the latter made by the constant use of the 
steel-shod bamboo pole in the same place in fending 
the boats off. It may be here mentioned that many of 
the large junks that pass up this rapid have a crew of 
as many as eighty men. 
‘The scenery is very wild and rocky, and after a 
hard day’s work the boat was made fast for the night 
at about five miles below the celebrated Sin-tan Rapid. 
Starting early the next morning the Lu-kan Gorge was 
passed through, the river now taking a sharp turn to 
the south, and then, rounding a steep rocky cliff, almost 
immediately turns to the westward again. This pro- 
duces a curious effect on ascending the river, as at first 
glance one is apt to think that further progress is 
