86 GOLD WASHING 
in natural history treasures. At noon the wind 
freshened and the poor trackers were somewhat re- 
lieved. The weather was cloudy, and a run of ninety- 
five li was made. The thermometer only showed 70° 
to-day, and in the evening the boat was secured near 
a small town about 505 li from Chung-king. 
April 14.—The journey made to-day was much 
the same as usual; nothing of special note occurred, 
with the exception of the intricacy of the channel, to get 
safely through which I was obliged to engage a native 
pilot, there being so many dangerous rocks in the 
channel. Two pagodas were passed on the right bank 
of the river, and one on the left. The boat was made 
fast for the night, after having made a run of 100 hi, 
about two miles above a small town on the right bank, 
the distance from Chung-king being now about 406 li. 
April 15.—A light wind favoured us to-day, and 
eased the work of the trackers. The weather was 
cloudy but fine ; thermometer 80°. There are no gorges 
in this part of the river, the country being more level. 
Flat sandbanks and shingle beds occur, and a good 
many men are engaged in washing for gold, which 
occurs rather more plentifully than lower down the 
river, but still in such small quantities as to make the 
industry profitable only to a Chinaman. Heaps of 
stones on the shingle banks formed by their washing 
