234 Notes on the River Yang-tse-Kictng. [No. 3, 
measure of time rather than of distance ; in this instance we were 
rather over three days in reaching Wan, but the distance is under 
60 miles. 
Between Quaichow and Wan the river is no where less than 150 
yards in breadth ; there are some rapids but none so strong as those 
in the gorges below Quaichow ; there are also rocks and reefs, but 
plenty of water in the channel ; the hills recede much from the 
river and are not so high as those lower down ; the poppy is cultivat- 
ed, the opium being collected during April and May ; the seed-pods 
of the Sz’chuen poppy are quite as large and in many places larger 
than any I have seen in India ; the specimens of opium brought 
down have been pronounced good, and the quantity produced in 
the province is so great, that it may well interfere with the foreign 
market. 
Shortly before reaching Wan are some flats of sand and shingle 
on which gold is washed for, but the quantity produced is small, 
and none but those who can find no other occupation are employed 
in the work. 
The town of Wan (hien) stands on the left bank ; it is a small 
walled place ; the shops are well supplied, and the inhabitants 
well off ; coal, sulphur, ginger, sugar-cane, spices, and blue cotton 
prints were exposed for sale ; the hills about the town are well water- 
ed and produce, besides the poppy, tobacco, peas, beans, wheat and 
barley ; rice and cotton follow later in the season ; the Tuugsliu tree 
is also much cultivated. 
Numbers of soldiers were on their way up the river towards the 
West, and we found here a Tartar General to whom the Viceroy of 
Iloupeh had given us letters, he was civil and attentive ; all alon" 
our route we had heard that Sz’chuen was in an unsettled state, and 
the General confirmed the report ; he had come to Wan to make dis- 
positions of troops, and having done this, was hastening from the 
rebel proximity. He reported the insurgents to be in possession of 
many towns between Wan and Chingtu, and the land route to be 
impassable on that account. He said the people had been so plunder- 
ed themselves, that they had taken to robbery as a means of exist- 
ence, and that it would be impossible to obtain carriage, as no one 
would be induced to venture into the disturbed districts. The Prefect, 
whom we afterwards visited, told the same story and recommended 
