64 HOPE ISLAND 
remembered, I had gone up to the Sin-tan Rapids before, 
and was able to see the amount of knocking about a 
boat might have to go through. She was only to 
draw about two feet of water when fully loaded, and 
to be fitted for ascending all the rapids that might be 
met with. 
Having seen the boat fairly started in building, I 
was able to take a trip down the river to an island 
called Pa-chow, about thirty miles from Ichang. I 
went with Mr. Montgomery in his boat, and having the 
duck-guns with us as well as the smaller bores, we got at 
Swain’s Shoal, within sight of the town, a shot with one 
of the former, which resulted in bagging five teal and 
two ducks. Proceeding further down we got to Hope 
Island, which is from four to five miles long, with ponds 
in the centre, but having no cover to speak of. It is 
frequented by wild-fowl of many species, but more es- 
pecially by a very large species of crane, one of which 
I was anxious to secure as a specimen. In this I was 
disappointed, for it seemed impossible to get within 
range on such flat ground. This crane, and also a stork 
marked in a very striking manner with black and 
white, were frequently seen on various parts of the 
river in this district, but, often as I tried, I was unable 
to obtain a specimen of either. On the island were to 
be seen many cranes, storks, pelicans, and eagles. 
