START FROM ICHANG 73: 
hold or on the counter out of the way. These are of 
great strength, provided that no kinks are taken in 
them, but with a short nip they snap at once. They are 
in universal use on the river for tracking, and, owing to 
the sharp edges of the bamboo, are somewhat dangerous 
to use unless handled with great care. I had also on 
board an anchor and a 32-inch chain cable, which I had 
purchased at Shanghai for use in case of emergency. 
After having seen all ready, a start was made at 4.30 
p.M. on March 26, with a fair wind upstream. Every- 
thing, however, was not in its place, for one of the 
crew was ashore. He came off hurriedly, seeing the 
boat under way, and in getting out of the sampan fell 
overboard, but was promptly picked up, with no 
damage done beyond getting wet through. The steamer 
Kiang-tung was at anchor in the river, and as we 
passed her the captain saluted with a blast of the 
steam whistle, the last sound of the sort we heard for 
many months. After getting well away from the town, 
I had the boat anchored for the night opposite the 
mouth of the Unknown River. This is a small stream, 
and takes its name from the fact that none of the 
European inhabitants of Ichang have as yet ascended it. 
The Chinese always make a point of taking a short dis- 
tance as the day’s journey on making a start for a long 
trip, and I was quite prepared for an early halt, only 
