Chap. IX. 



A STOEM IX A CREEK. 



167 



of the town, and drawn up into a small creek, where 

 she was made fast for the night. The sky had been 

 black and threatening for some hours, and there was 

 now every indication of a severe thunder-storm. 

 After dark a great number of small boats came into 

 the creek where we were, in order to be safe from 

 the flood which the people expected to come down 

 the river. I shall never forget the confusion and 

 noise which took place as the last boats came hurry- 

 ing in. Each person seemed perfectly indifferent as 

 to what might befal his neighbour, provided he was 

 only safe himself. Our boat came in for a share of ill 

 usage, and got many a bump as the others rushed past, 

 All the Yen-chow and Nan-che boats are what 

 we may call family boats, that is, the captain or pro- 

 prietor carries his wife and family along with him, 

 while the Hwuy-chow people, who go up the other 

 branch of this river, leave their families at home. 

 The women always take a prominent part in the 

 management of the boat, sculling and poling as well 

 as the men. If they equal their better halves in 

 these laborious duties, they far exceed them when 

 any disturbance takes place in which the tongue has 

 to play a leading part. In the evening in question, 

 as the numerous boats came in to anchor in the 

 creek, they drove each other about in great con- 

 fusion. The main stream being very rapid, the boats 

 coming down it shot into the creek with great velo- 

 city. The night was very dark, and heavy drops of 

 rain began to fall. The thunder-storm, which had 

 been threatening for some time, came gradually up 



