CAUSE OF FLOOD 223 
occurred, as I should certainly have got into trouble, 
and probably have had to pay a heavy indemnity. 
On August 24 the river rose rapidly, probably 
fifteen feet during the day, the boat rocking so much 
as to prevent writing. This flood was caused by the 
Tung and Ya Rivers, the Min above the town being in 
its usual state, so that probably hot weather caused a 
large quantity of snow to melt in the mountains around 
Ta-tsien-lu. 
The following day the river was still rising, and the 
boat in an awkward place, from which it was impossible 
to move her, the river rushing past in a roaring torrent 
and about twenty-five feet above its ordinary height, 
being the colour of mud. Three anchors were down, 
and luckily all the cables held, or we should have been 
swept miles down the stream and probably wrecked. 
The water was rushing down the Tung and Ya Rivers 
with such violence into the Min that it had not time 
to run down to a level surface, but could be plainly 
seen running up in the centre to a height of several feet 
above the level at the banks. Without having seen 
such a flood it would be difficult to imagine the force 
of the enormous volume of water so suddenly set free. 
On the morning of the 26th the flood began to abate, 
and as soon as practicable the boat was shifted to a 
more secure anchorage. 
