SUNDAY ISLAND 7 
was experienced in getting by Sunday Island, the 
channel past which is, during the winter and spring, 
when the river is at its lowest, always a cause of delay 
to the steamers. They always send a boat ahead to 
sound on the way up, and in spite of all precautions 
frequently get aground. The bed of the river here is 
very wide, and consequently shallow, and each year 
when the water falls low it cuts a new channel for 
itself. No permanent survey is therefore of any use, 
and the fairway is usually buoyed afresh as it shifts. 
This place is the most serious obstacle to navigation 
on the river below Ichang, and during winter, only 
steamers of the shallowest draught ever attempt the 
passage. This town is situated on the left bank of 
the Yang-tze, and 1,110 miles from its mouth. It is 
the last treaty port, and I considered that it would form 
a base for my work for at least a year. The first dif- 
ficulty was to find a house for my wife and family, and 
this was by no means an easy task. It was, of course, 
impossible to live in the city, and for some time it ap- 
peared to be equally impossible to find any habitation 
near the European settlement. The Consul, however, 
most kindly lodged us for about a fortnight, at the 
expiration of which I was fortunate enough to be able 
to rent what was called a Chinese house. It really was 
nothing but an empty barn, with mud walls and a roof 
