Large numbers of the Fuchou junks were moored here, which differ in construction from all other junks on the river Yangtse in having their great sterns twisted or wrung a quarter round to starboard, and in being steered by an immense stern sweep, and not by the balanced rudder of an ordinary junk.
The following day, after a long day's work, we moored beyond the town of Chang-show-hsien.

Here I paid the laoban 2000 cash, whereupon he paid his men something on account, and then blandly suggested a game of cards.

He was fast winning back his money, when I intervened and bade them turn in, as I wished to make an early start in the morning.

The river seemed to get broader, deeper, and more rapid as we ascended; the trackers, on the contrary, became thinner, narrower, and more decrepit.
On March 8th, our fourteenth day out, disaster nearly overtook us when within a day's sail of our destination.

Next day we reached Chungking safely, having done by some days the fastest journey on record up the Yangtse rapids.