Chap. XIV. 



PASSAGE JUNK. 



311 



on the water's edge. She was now considered 

 secure, and able to withstand the strong rush of 

 water which seemed to be carrying everything 

 before it. 



Before these preparations were completed the 

 tide was rushing up the bay with fearful rapidity, 

 and rising much faster than I had ever witnessed 

 before. In less than a quarter of an hour it rose 

 some fourteen or fifteen feet, and seemed as if it 

 would soon overflow the banks and cover the low- 

 land on which we were standing. At the same 

 time it poured its water into the creeks and ditches 

 which its former violence had torn open, and every 

 now and then we could hear the dull, heavy sound 

 of mud-banks tumbling into the stream. Although 

 there was no danger when we were standing still, 

 we felt glad when the junk had been properly 

 moored so that we could get on board. 



The junks which navigate this dangerous bay 

 are generally loaded with pigs when coming from 

 the north side, and consequently are frequently in 

 a most filthy condition. Dr. Medhurst, of the 

 London Missionary Society at Shanghae, gives 

 the following graphic description of what he ex- 

 perienced when crossing in a pig-laden junk : — 

 " It was night before we arrived on board the 

 junk, which immediately got under weigh. It 

 was only then that we became alive to our uncom- 

 fortable position. The grunting and stink of the 

 pigs, together with the smoking and jabbering of 

 the men, affected a variety of the senses in a most 



