THE PAGODA OF LOAII-SIXG-TAH. 
131 
tlic largest cities, and as sueh is entitled to unusual eon- 
sideration : in addition, it lias never before been written 
of, to knowledge, lienee another claim to being made 
the subject of the next few pages. I turn to my journal 
for extracts : — 
“It is fortunate that we touch at Fou-chow, for the 
equinoctial gales have bruised and battered us consider- 
ably; they still blow very heavy, and our coal is already 
running short, we having had to keep up constant steam 
or drift helplessly to leeward. We will now be able to 
repair damages and fill our bunkers with wood, possibly 
with coal. 
“While standing in for the supposed mouth of the 
river with the Cooper in tow, we ran aground on a sand- 
bank, and while hauling off into deep water were boarded 
by a number of piratical fishermen, one of whom con- 
sented to pilot us in. He anchored us about a mile below 
the pagoda of Loah-sing-tah shortly after dark. 
“This pagoda, which is situated on a pleasantly-wooded 
elevation near a turn in the river, is twenty-five miles 
above the sea, and within nine of the city itself. It is 
one of the lingering monuments of unknown ages, and 
is at length beginning to crumble betieath the constant 
action of time and the elements. Here it is that mer- 
chant-vessels anchor, receiving their teas by huge cargo- 
boats which come to them on the ebb-tide and return 
with the flood. We found the American bark Hun- 
garian at anchor, the captain of which boarded us and 
hailed our arrival with great joy. We also found a large, 
heavily-laden English ship, the captain of which ottered us 
a thousand dollars if we w’ould tow him around a certain 
