74 LIFE-BOATS 
taking care that I was far enough from the town to 
prevent any of the crew or trackers returning there that 
night. 
The next morning a start was made at 4.45 a.M., 
and the trackers had to work for several hours. At 
last a fair breeze sprung up, and we were able to proceed 
under sail until arriving at a small village ninety li from 
Ichang, where the boat was made fast for the night. 
This place was reached at 5.30 p.., and I had been 
busy all day rearranging the various things in the cabin 
and seeing that those articles which might be wanted 
in a hurry were stowed in accessible places. On March 
28 we were under way at 4.54 a.m. with a fair wind, 
which, however, soon died away, and the trackers had 
to be landed to tow against the stream. We were now 
approaching the Ta-tung Rapid, where the rocks and 
boulders are extremely dangerous. Here was one of the 
life-boats whose duty it is to pick up all bodies floating 
in the river, and to save lifeif possible. They get paid, 
I believe, so much for each one brought on shore, whether 
living or dead. They are usually manned by five men, 
and are easily known as they are always painted red. 
The Government supplies them and their crew, and they 
are stationed in the dangerous parts of the river. The 
current was found to be very strong, and this, combined 
with a head wind, compelled us to anchor for some 
