108 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. VI. 



change of weather took place, an event common 

 amongst these mountains. When we went to bed the 

 evening was calm and serene, and there was no ap- 

 pearance of any change in the weather. Before mid- 

 night, however, two or three sudden gusts of wind 

 followed each other in quick succession ; and in the 

 short space of a quarter of an hour it was blowing a 

 gale. I was awakened by a sudden gust which blew 

 the door open, and then nearly swept the roof off. 

 At the same time the boat was torn from her moor- 

 ings, and driven out into the stream. We were now 

 in a dangerous position, for this part of the river was 

 full of rocks. All the men were up, and with two 

 large sculls and bamboo poles tried to get the boat 

 inshore. Some of them were lashing the roof firmly 

 down to the hull with ropes, and I thought it would 

 have been carried away before it could have been 

 secured. Chinamen-like, our crew were making a 

 great noise ; all were giving orders, and none obeying 

 them. In the mean time we were flying down before 

 the wind, and with a rapid current. I expected every 

 moment that the boat would strike upon the rocks, 

 and be dashed to pieces. Luckily, however, they 

 managed to get her inshore, and ran upon a bank of 

 sand, where she was made fast again. 



At daylight the wind had abated considerably, but 

 it still blew too strong for us to get under way. We 

 were therefore obliged to remain where we were 

 during the greater part of the day. Our boatmen in- 

 vited some of their friends, who were detained by the 

 same cause as ourselves, to come on board to dine and 



