DAMAGE TO SAMPAN 229 
fell 23 feet, as I measured on a stick stuck in the bottom, 
close to the boat, for the purpose. This, however, 
made but little difference in the rapidity of the stream, 
and whirlpools and strong eddies were very frequent. 
Though many dangerous places were passed, no damage 
was done until Hu-lin was reached. Just below this 
place the sampan containing all my living specimens, 
struck hard upon a rock and knocked a hole in her 
bottom. This was temporarily stopped in the usual 
way, by ramming in a handful of rags, a supply of which 
always appears to be kept handy for such purpose in 
navigating this river. She then came on and caught us 
up at our evening anchorage, her crew being anxious 
to reach us before making any further repairs as my 
boat carried all the food. She now had to be completely 
unloaded, baled out, and then have the damage made 
good in the best way that we could manage it. This 
did not take much time, and she was loaded again the 
same night and remained fairly watertight till I had 
finished with her at Ichang. 
The Crossoptilon were by this time much reduced 
in numbers, many having died from want of strength to 
stand the voyage, all being under six months old. The 
other birds, being mature, stood the journey much better. 
A slight delay occurred at Wu-shan-hsien, where we 
were forced to remain a day, the whirlpools and current 
