The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-11-30


away out on the northern limit of an
extremely fiat, barren region, with few
or no trees to relieve the monotony
of the bare landscape. Here we found
a man from Chlnanfoo waiting for us
with four small native boats, which |
had telegraphed from Cheefoo for, and
in the afternoon of the following day
we embarked on this river, which we
nave been following steadily for the
past three days and more, sometimes
making excellent progress, when the
wind has been favorable, at other
times, getting on very slowly. We
have with us not only our own things
for our new house, but a number of
packages for others in Chinanfoo. So
VIC found ourselves our first night out
very much crowded, as three boats
were filled with goods. The next day,
however, we succeeded in having two
more boats, that is a pair, for they al
ways go in pairs, one behind the other.
so since then we have been much
more comfortable. | wish you could
see us as our caravan, or rather, fleet,
moves slowly up the river. Each
boat is, perhaps, twenty-five feet long,
and in the middle is covered with
mats, spread over bamboo arches,
about three feet and half high in the
centre, and sloping down to the sides
of the boat, thus covering over :: space
about seven by five feet, which is used
for sleeping purposes at night, and for
lounging in during the day. The ex-
posed ends Of the boats are used, the
back one by the boatman who poles,
the two midd C ones for seats and ma
tive stove for cooking, and the front
one for various articles, and at times
by the second boatman, who, when
not pulling on the bank, stands there
and poles, unless the wind is strong
enough to get on without polling. The
above description apples to the two
boats we occupy ourselves The four
other boats are loaded with goods in
the middle under the mating, so ar
ranged as to be cool enough for sleep
ing places at night by the boatmen.
When the wind is favorable we have
our sails hoisted. each pair of boats
having one sail, but when there is no
wind or it is contrary, one man pulls
long rope fastened to the mast and
one poles behind $500. IVA
Our first night was rendered uncom-
Portable not only by our being crowd
ed but also by rain, which came down
steadily most of the night and dripped
through the lower parts Of our mat.
ting cover and blew into the more or
less exposed ends of our shelter, SO
that We had hard time to worry
through the night. Since then how.
ever We have had no more rain and
hope we may be spared any more
such experiences. The second day
out we passed through the region
where four years ago we lived for two
months and distributed famine relief.
l Visited the village we made our head
quarters during that time and was very
pleasantly received by those who
knew me but | was made heartsick
by the looks of the place, which in
stead of improving has gone steadily
backward ever since the great famine,
owing to repeated floods from year to
year In fact they are constantly suf
tering from famine in that region,
whole companies of the people, men,
women and children going off for hun
dreds of miles to beg in droves for
food. We used to have them by
ffties in Tungehow from the region of
the Yellow River, two or three hun
dred miles away. The Yellow River,
with its constantly recurring floods, is
truly "Chlna's Sorrow" We have
found evidences all along for the past
three days of the direful influence of
China's fatal river, the country for
miles showing the recently dried mud
or the pools of standing water made
by the last flood which took place
over two months ago. AS we 60
farther south and from the sea we are
getting away from the desolate fiat
barren country we started in, and into
more thrifty and prosperous looking
regions and nearer to the hills, with
out which think any place looks so
uninteresting. When We reach Chin.
anfoo we shall be right at the foot of
hills to the south, and on the edge of
the immense plain which stretches far
away to the north away beyond Peking,
Chinanfoo., Oct. 9TH,
We reached here, as we expected
to about noon day before yesterday
and since then have been busy
readiusrng ourselves to our surround
ings, becoming acquainted with the
new members of our station, and
greeting our Chinese friends. 1t warns
our hearts to see how cordial many of
the Chinese seem to feel toward us
and how glad they seem to have us
back. The one whom I have had