The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
WONDERS or TIE SEA.
The Bore In the Gulf or HauE.Chow.
From fhk LOrdJu Field

The normal magnitude Of the bore in the
| Hang-chow Gull had been little appreciated by
foreigners until in the autumn OF last year OBJ
| by a surveying party from ii. Vi. S. Ramb
The risks which the boats and their crews ran
| were seen. made mo anxious TO witness the
passage of this wave, travelling at the rate of
Of 9 feet to ~ feet in height and "a miles in
width. The strength OF the embankment on
the north bank OF the river and the manner In
which Iunks were protected from the tide
without being deprived OF its advantages. were
additional attractions.
were low mud banks which did not greatly In
vite attention. but Immediately at hand was
an emhankment which Is probably the best
piece OF engineering work in China. 1t Is said
to extend over thirty mi es of coast. and II not
everywhere on so grand a scale as at Haining
length. for n breach in it would at once be
known by its effect on tho inland fresh waters
on the water front is hia sold wall Of stone IS
depth and width. and OF which the upper tier,
at any ratio. are . feet long The courses
down. Behind the. wall is an, embankmont
50 s Ie g se y fSe
In China, though the least freauented; and ris-
ing gradually toward bA Wha At TIE back on
the tide Is likely to inJure the wall large bas-
tons have been built ont into the river. and
junks take refuge until their enemy. the bore,
has passed. The Julks are warped to stakes
on the .embankmcnt. and lines OF piles. the
heads OF which show u loot or two above the
river bed. prevent the hunks from being dashed
to and fro with the first swirl Of the tide.
of admiring the construction OF the embank,
ment, and OF noticing how formidable the
y ysh Is he &s lsae OF hot psI Junk
to our view. Whom we came back in the even
Ing. AZ 10lq o'clock, the water had fallen quite
changed having been converted into a raging
torrent. the noise OF whose waters drowned all
other sounds. In the centre Of the stream tho
again II would boil into foam and breakers, as
though II had already met the incoming tide
diminished. and by II L. NJ. the roar OF the
bore coming In from tho sea was quite distinct.
how the river quoted down. until nj last lis
surface was as glass. with only u few rippleS
drifting from tho centre TO the banks, and that
30 gently rs not even TO give the sound OF
water tapping on the piles. 1t would be impos-
sible 10 eXagGcrntc the impressiyenoss of the
scene under the exquisite moonlight, or how
striking was tho contrast bo:weon the ahso.
luto silence OF everything near and the rush OF
the Incoming mass heard in the distance. and
which was cach moment becoming more sem
slbIe. Ono great popularity Of tho roar was
that there was nothing In 1t to tell OF l!s nature
waters, but steady gathering of force: which
H hGid one silent In eYpec'aion, while the
fa%%S2 as o and III was SO
Ing In It's Volume, but though nash Of white
foam now and again disclosed tho position OF
the bore its body was still hidden from sight,
rs the moon. which was almost overhead, threw
little light on the river 10 the east. Hitherto
the sound had been borne in from the south
east alone, but now from the northeast came
roar telling OF another body OF wator on its
way. and soon after II was heard we saw be-
yond the bastion. hue Of white water some
with the hank. Then it, left wing wheeled
round and hurried toward Vs. md AS 1t came
tho soutn DQrr so nIslcd into Il sht, tearing
In de rGrh"d 80 htIuAm IN one dnbrokrn line
extend na nom bank o bank. Behind followed
mass OF water in tumultuuus haste and after
an interval of three and half minutes there
came second wave larger than the bore ITSELF
and succeeded by broken water oyertoppinR
the wave. 30 coon as this had passed the roar
died almost EWAy, but the waters behind came