CHAPTER VIII - GORGES AND RAPIDS

Summary

Notwithstanding that at I-chang we were a thousand miles from the sea, porpoises had kept us company the entire distance, and it was only here that these last relics of the “briny deep” bid us farewell, and, giving an extra roll or two over for our especial edification, seemed to say, as plain as Canton English could speak — “That top-side river no belong Mr. Neptune King, hab got too muchey rock and rapid, makey all same chow-chow water!” — meaning thereby to inform us that the river above was no longer suited to their constitutions, and that, not being imbued with any great ardour for exploration, they preferred to remain and disport themselves in the more placid waters below. But we are in a new boat! and some five-and-twenty naked and half-naked fellows are dragging us along at a smart rate by a long plaited bamboo line, while I-chang is fast fading behind us. See how they have to scramble along the precipitous rocky shore! Sometimes on their hands and knees, at others with foothold only for their toes, or on sloping smooth rock where their grass sandals only keep them from slipping into the foaming current below.