‘WHIGEREN' BOAT 87 
operations are frequently seen. A run of sixty li was 
made to-day, and the distance from Chung-king is now 
reduced to 345 li. The country is well cultivated 
about here—cereals, pulse, tobacco, fruit, and poppies. 
being grown. The district is well populated, and the 
inhabitants seem to be fairly well off. 
April 16.—Started at daylight with a light favour- 
able breeze, and passed Fu-chau at 4 p.m. Here the 
Khian river joins the Yang-tze-kiang, flowing down from 
the province of Quei-chau, which is one of the poorest 
and wildest in the Empire. Its rocky and rugged surface 
admits of but little cultivation, but it is probably rich 
in minerals. The halt for the night was made twenty 
li above Fu-chau. 
On April 17 there was no wind at starting and a 
strong current. Only thirty-five li were made, and it 
rained in the evening. 
April 18.—Heavy rain to-day. A head wind and 
current so strong that the trackers were unable to make 
way against it. At 4 p.m. the weather moderated, and 
a start was made. After proceeding slowly for half an 
hour, I was surprised by hearing a cry from my men 
of a‘ weigeren’ boat—that is to say, a boat contain- 
ing an English man or men. On looking astern I saw 
a small boat flying a peculiar flag, which was evidently 
at first glance not Chinese. I stopped to allow it to 
