1S61-1 Notes on the Biver Yang-tse-Kiang. 225 
name the Yang-tse was formerly known as low down as this junction, 
and is now higher up. Its position at the junction is by Naval 
Dead reckoning from Hankow, 
Lat. 29° 27' 2" N. 
Long. 112° 50' 05" E. 
Yochow, standing at the entrance to the lake, is in the direct road 
of the trading boats coming from the province of Hounan ; there 
does not appear to be much business done, almost all the trade being 
at Hankow ; the country towards the north-west is flat, being, in 
March, only a few feet above the water, and covered when the river 
is in flood ; the town is in a dilapidated condition ; it stands on high 
clay cliffs well above the water. 
A short distance above the junction, the banks are often eighteen 
or twenty feet high in the bends of the river ; opposite these banks 
are generally extensive flats of sand running far out into the stream ; 
deep water is always found near the steep banks. 
The course of the river for some distance after leaving the lake, 
is very tortuous, a whole day’s travelling frequently not taking the 
junk more than five or six miles in a direct line from the last 
anchorage. 
The country as far as could be seen from the river, is a flat, grow- 
ing wheat, beans and carrots ; in some extensive swamps on the 
banks, osiers were growing ; about thirty miles above the lake it 
becomes undulating, ranges of hills appearing in the West; on the 
left bank a high and broad embankment protects the low country 
from the river floods ; before reaching Shishow, a small walled 
town on the right bank, the river runs near some hills varying from 
700 to 1,500 feet in height ; three of these hills are excellent marks ; 
one we named the “ Camel’s hump” another the “ Ass’ ears” and 
the third “ Boulder hill” from a large round mass of rock standing 
by itself on the side of a hill ; all these marks are visible at a great 
distance ; higher up the river, close to the town of Shishow, two 
hills, called the little and great temple hills, are distinguishable by 
the white buildings on them, for many miles. 
At Shishow, low hills of a hard red stone run down to the water’s 
edge • from the top of the “ Little Temple” hill, close to the river, 
a good view is obtained of the town and country to the S. E. and 
of a lake near the town in which are small islands with houses and 
