132 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. Chap. VIII. 
except a few necessary clothes and a mat to sleep upon. 
This he was the more readily inclined to do, as he had 
been obliged to dispose of, at a loss, a fine new trunk 
which he had bought in Foo-chow when he started on 
his former expedition up the river Min. Having seen 
him pack up everything, except the indispensable articles 
already specified, I sent him on shore to leave the 
package at the house of his relation. 
We got under way early next morning, and about 
midday arrived at a small town named Ta-yang, situated 
on the left bank of the river, near one of the rapids, 
which were now becoming frequent on this part of the 
river, which is beyond the influence of the tide. By 
great exertion we succeeded in getting our boat up 
the rapid, and, as the men were very tired, we de- 
cided on remaining at Ta-yang for the remainder of 
the day. This gave me an opportunity of examining 
at my leisure the natural productions of this part of the 
country. 
When I returned from my rambles I found that our 
boat had been removed from her station abreast 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 hurrying in. Each person seemed 
perfectly indifferent as to what might befal his neigh- 
