98 PING-SHAN 
panied Mrs. Riley on her journey down the river. The 
population of the town is considerable, there being 
64,000 registered houses. There is a very picturesque 
temple on the opposite bank of the Min River, built ina 
grove of trees. A very bad rapid was reported to exist 
just above the town, but from what I heard, I hoped 
to reach Kia-ting-fu in seven days. 
At no considerable distance up the Yang-tze above 
Sui-fu is Ping-shan, beyond which I was informed the 
river is not considered to be navigable. Very deep and 
narrow gorges are found, and the rapids are impassable. 
Small local boats and sampans ply between them, but 
nothing except timber rafts attempt to pass down. 
Very little is known about this part of the river, and the 
navigation of these rafts is considered to be so dangerous 
that it is a regular part of the contract for the crews to 
be provided with their coffins. Ping-shan is also an 
outpost of the Imperial troops, who have constant 
trouble with the Lolos. 
On May 8 astart was made from Sui-fu, the boat 
being towed by seventy coolies through the long rapid 
just above the town. The towing path was on the left 
bank, and I saw for the first time fishing cormorants 
used. Unfortunately they were some distance away, 
but they were perfectly tame and well under command, 
being used from long bamboo rafts, each raft having 
