The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-11-30
l etters From DR. James B. Neal.

VI ti'H ilNSI, lIle same one
which Mrs. Neal and | lived on for
two months III famine time, and have
thus reached the end of our steamer
travel. We have still three or four
days journey overland, so we shall not
reach Chinanioo before Tuesday or
Wednesday of next week, but even
that WI make saving of several days
over the trip overland. We came on
board this boat on Tuesday evening at
Chcfoo and weighed anchor about
nan past one the next morning, but
had no. proceeded more than thirty
miles on our way up the coast when
our boiler sprung leak. AS there was
high wind and heavy sea repairs
could not be made at sea so we were
compelled to return under sail to the
shelter of the Chefoo bluff, where we
lay until about a. IN. the next morn.
ing, losing thereby whole day. That
night of tossing on the Gulf of Pachili
stands out In our memory as one Of
the most uncomfortable nights we
have ever spent on ship or on shore.
In the first place this boat is a small
one and used only for coast service
and has only one cabin for foreign
passengers, which of cour5c left for
the use of Mrs. Neal and Miss Pom
dexter, intending to sleep myself in
the dining room. But before they
could get settled they discovered the
beds were full of reaches and silk
worms, so they were afraid to sleep in
them. So we all took our travelling
beduing up on the deck, and settled
down there for nights sleep. We
were really very comfortable then and
should have gotten along famously if
a squall had not come up and the rain
driven us inside. Then the cir took
the top of the dining table covered
with a travelling mattress, and l took
a lounge and we tried to sleep, but
alas, such a time as we did have!
Never have l known in all my ex-
perience such rol ing and tunbling
and tossing about as we had that
night. Such rattling and breaking Of
dishes and tumbling of chairs until it
seemed sometimes our ship would
turn bottom side up. Never shall |
forget The way poor Mrs. Neal and
Miss p. kept sliding first forward and
then backward on the top of their
slippery table, every once and awhile
starting up with a Mortified exclama.
ton OF fear, lest they were falling off
into space. To me it was most
amusing until seasckness, to which
even Mrs. Neal had to succumb, at
tackled me, when the novelty Of the
situation lost Its charms, and | was
only too CAD when we dipped anchor
about 9 a. m. in quleter waters, and
we could crawl out and get breath
OF fresh air. You can imagine how
ever, what our feelings were to have to
realize that we had endured all this,
and travelled nearly sixty miles only to
find ouI selves again in sight our of
starting point. After breakfast the cap
tain and first mate left in a sail boat
to Chefoo to take word to the Chefoo
office, but in trying to land, their boat
upset and they were in the water
about an hour before they were pick
ed up by Chinese tampan, SO you
see we had various and very varied ex-
periences that first day. Yesterday
morning about = o'clock we took an
other start westward and when we
woke up we found it 4 beautiful bright
day with smooth sea over which we
sailed all day stopping at two Chinese
ports, at the latter OF which we went
ashore with the captain, Mrs. Neal
and Miss P. gathering shells while l
went with the captain for some gun
ming along the shore. We bagged
nine birds which we are to have for
titfin (unch) this noon. Our captain
is most agreeable and attentive he
has given up his room for two nights
to the ladies and hac the cabin clean,
ed so have Eeen able to sleep there.
We are to leave the boat and start
overland, but our journey Will soon be
over and by coming this way we have
saved time and discomfort in Chinese
inns. 1t seems somewhat natural to
see once more this desolate famine
country with its low lying shores and
flatness SO depressing in its monotony.
We are all quite well and glad to be
getting on SO well as we are, though
we are now two days behind time, the
boat leaving Chefoo one day late
We expect to find several boats from
Chinanfoo awaiting us when we get
ashore as teleg:aphed for four to be
sent down. We 60 up on a cargo
boat in little while with our goods.
JAMES B. NEAL,
On BOARD NATIVE Boat, SIxTY)
MILES FROM CHINANFoo
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