Chap. XIV. 



PASSAGE JUNK. 



309 



though, no doubt, our coolies, who were well ac- 

 customed to the road, saw with very different eyes. 

 Those furthest ahead now began to shout loudly to 

 the sailors in the junk, which was supposed to be 

 somewhere near, but as yet not visible from the 

 spot where we had halted. The signal was heard 

 and replied to by the people on board, who seemed 

 close at hand, and in another minute we were 

 standing on the brink of the bay. 



When we reached the water's edge we observed 

 our junk aground a little below the spot where we 

 stood, and were informed the flood-tide would make 

 immediately, when she would be brought to the 

 bank to receive us and our luggage. In a few 

 minutes an extraordinary sound of rushing water 

 was heard coming njD the bay, and almost at the 

 same moment the tide began to flow with a rapidity 

 which was quite alarming. This was the " Eagre," 

 or as it is called in India, the " Bore," which often 

 makes its appearance on the Bay of Hang-chow 

 at full and change of the moon, and is sometimes 

 most dangerous to boats and junks which are 

 caught in its full strength. In the present instance 

 our junk was in a kind of creek, or at the mouth 

 of a canal, and in this position was perfectly safe. 

 She floated instantly and moved up to a position 

 close to the bank on which we were standing. 

 The sailors seemed to manage her admirably, and 

 it certainly required both activity and experience 

 to bring her up as they did. As soon as the vessel 

 was in her proper position, she was kept in it 



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