Page:A wandering student in the Far East vol.1 - Zetland.djvu/96

60 upon dry land during the previous winter, owing to a sudden fall in the river level. With that consideration and resource characteristic of the followers of the nautical profession, her captain took and despatched to the owners bi-weekly sets of photographs, "in order that they might see for themselves the steady progress made in the recession of the water." Fortunately on this occasion the steam launch which had been sent forward to explore, at last hit upon an eight-foot passage, and by evening we reached the port of Sha-shih, where, owing to further reports of shallow water ahead, we anchored for the night.

Sha-shih was opened to trade by the Japanese in 1896, but as far as foreign trade is concerned has proved a failure, its returns being the lowest but one of all the Yang-tsze ports. Japan holds a fair share of such trade as there is, and before leaving we discharged 1000 cases of Japanese sugar, seaweed, and yarn. But even the tenacity of the Japanese has given way before the stolid indifference of Sha-shih, only one of four firms that were established there two or three years ago still remaining, while