ACCIDENT IN RAPID 79 
were passed through during the day, none, however, 
being of any importance. 
The next day the start was made at 4.30 a... to ascend 
the Fung-sien (wind-box) Gorge. Just before reaching 
the gorge the river takes a sharp turn, and there is a 
very awkward and dangerous rapid. Here the boat 
nearly came to serious grief through the carelessness of 
the lowban or captain. He did not use a stout enough 
tow rope or have enough trackers, the result being that 
the boat hung in the rapid, and then the rope carried 
away. A large junk was made fast to the bank, and 
her crew were asked to assist us, but they would not 
move a finger to help a foreign devil out of a most 
perilous situation. 
The boat was driven back into a whirlpool, and by 
dint of hard work was huloed into a backwater and 
then to the bank, after having been swept down a con- 
siderable distance. This caused a vexatious delay, but 
upon proper precautions being now taken, the rapid 
was safely ascended and the gorge entered. It is very 
winding, and the scenery particularly striking. The 
mountains are high, and precipices are seen 2,000 feet 
deep. There are but few landing-places, and the locality 
is dark and gloomy. There are a number of Chinese 
coffins laid about in cracks and crevices that appear to 
be utterly inaccessible, and the wonder is how they were 
