Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-04-23
ships's head, ~ he was standing on thu. paddle

"devil Ships" the fleet moved on again, and
from the tops Of the masts the men could
sec bsleaguring hosts Of the imperial army
crowdins the hills in the rear of Nankin.
and their enca,npments forming complete
and extended semi circle. round tho devoted
city. which they have 50 long and so inetfec-
tually besieged. Shots were fired by the
rebe at other points but without effect,
and the second day after the affair At Nan
kim when t fleet was anchored near amoth.
or large city, the rebels who had learnt
their error sent amicabie ovcrtures and apollo
giss which encouraged some Of the officers
to 60 ashore, where they were treated with
much civiIity and attention BY the chief Of
the rebels who was found to be surrounded
by \ miserable rabb'e Of opium smokers,
consisting Of evil looking men and youth,
the latter p"epondcra,ing, and NIL tricked
out in the usual show Of guady plun,age-
The general aspect Of the rabble and the gen.
try produced the most unfavorable impress
sion. though these people, rs is we'll known
have protested to believe in some Of the
doctrines Of Christianity, at the same time
renouncing tho heathenism of their country
men. Little confidence is now yeposcd in
their religious prctensions.
Proceeding onward = grand spectacle
presented itself IN Imperial and Rebel
army were engaged in a pitched battle -
They were at a comfortable distance from
each other, firing long singalls loaded with
slugs making up in almost informal noises
what was wanting in shot and hits. The
whole country about Nankin, and f,r a con-
siderable distance above it, seemed to be one
grea. field Of foravs and battles be tween the
1mperialists and Rebels. i+-1
On the 24th, the feet reached The city Of
kienhjen, which was in the hands OF The
Impcrialists; and here the Retribution
whose heavy draft impeded the progress Of
the feet, was trough, up and left behind,
the fleet proceeding without it the rest Of
the distance. Here tho aspect of the coun-
try presented sudden change, and the
scenery became charming and magnificent
Instead Of the low aluvial mud fats, for
which the Yang tse is p-ovovbial, there were
wooded hills and green valleys, and inter-
mingling forests and meadows. the whole
comparing hvorably with the scenery Of
Switzerland and Wales. At one place the
beauty ofscenery received quite theatrical
effect from most picturesque battle which
was being fought between the Imperialists
and Rebels. Though the firing was by no
means alarming, the waving flags and bright
costumes Of the advancing AMI retiring hosts
impaired an air o: life and poetry to the
scene. . = ~.
On the 26th Of November, the fleet reach
cd the city OF Genking, which was occupied
BY the Rebels, but besieged by tho imperial
lists. The city was strongly fortified, and
the Rebels fired upon the fleet as it 40.
preached, upon which the fleet fired upon
the forts, and soon silcnced them. On the
goth the city Of Kcu. Ki.ng was reached,
which was found to be in the hands Of the
lmpcriaaists, and where the first signs Of
trade and commerce were seen: and here the
rule Of the Rebels ended. On the LIST Of De-
feet passed through a gorge called the Devils
bte-a sort Of chasm in lofty range Of
mountains. The fleet also passed the cele-
brated Ia Ike Poyang, the largest in China. At
this point the difficulties ofnavisation disap-
peared, and no sand bars or other obstruct-
ions impeded the fleet in its ascent. Passing
several important cities, some in ruin and
dcsolation caused years since by the Rebels,
and others showing symptoms Of the revival
of trade. GA the 4'h Of December, 26 days
after leaving Shanghai, the feet reached the
proposed terminus Of the expedition, and
anchored before the renowned but little
known city Of Hank',O, having assembled the
river from Weosung $40 miles. II is hardly
possible to describe the amazement of the
gaping multitude, who had mover seen such
sight before, and whose surprise and won
der could hardly have been exceeded had
these strange visitors been dropped down
from heaven. - .,.....t
llankow is most important point Cor in
terror commerce, and with two other Cities
almost uniting with it, contains an immense
population. The names of the two oher
cities are Hang Yang and WI Chang The
three cities arc estimated! BY the Able Hue
to contain a population OF not less than eioh,
m,lAcns. - -.4s t~s',- .>Is<,
Tung tys. hiang, or "S,n Of the Ocean, As
the word means, is to China what the Mis-.
sissip.i is to the United States and the Am.
azon to South America. Taking its rise in
Kokonor, in the country between 'rhibet and
China, in latitude Is north and longitude
900 east it discharges its mighty volume Of
water into the Pacific Ocean, in lat $50 anil
long 122o-The sources are not far from
those Oft the Yellow River, on the north oft:
its course is FIJI! Of grand sweeps and bends,
first turning suddenly to the south, and then
flowing northeast and east, then bending
southwark again, and receiving the waters
Of the largest lake iii China, then in pursu.
ing its course it take in the waters Of another
great lake; after which it runs nearly north.
cast, passing the old capital, N.ni'tn, and
pouring itself into the Dcean al,out 25O miles
from that city, and 60 below Shanghai. At
IT'S mouth il is above 20 miles wide. and 10
miles for long distance. above, its junction
with the Woosang, at town II miles below
Shanghai; and its breadth was i mile 1t
Hony Kou, where the English expedition
terminated its ascent, go miles above shane-
hal. 1t is large and noble river far, above
Hankow, and cap;bsc vfjunk or. large boat
navigation, It's said, FIR l,O0O miles from its
mouth. The entire length Of the, river is
$500 miles, if not indeed some hundreds Of
miles longer, as SONS maintain The only
obstruction to it's navigation is the sand bars
and changes continually being made in the
channels Of the river. SO that chart care.
fully constructed ono year is Of little vaaue
tho next. Islands abound of considerable
size in the mouth of the. river, which has
been formed within tho memory of even
English residents IN Chins, while others, IS |