Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/76

 92 Ling-Nani.

military post, and the remains of fortifications show its past, nses, while on a hillside, on the shore opposite, is the grave of a company of braves, who fell in battle here. The broad West River is not always so placid as it seems in the days of early spring. Once during a stormy January we made the journey up its stream, when its waves dashed high on the rocky shore. Long lines of men attached to the tracking-ropes, triple and quadruple the usual number, gave evidence of the force required to move the boat, while several dismasted boats and the wreck of a barge on the rocky head of Chii-t’ow-shan showed the force of a storm on its waters. Its channel is deep enough to admit steamers of the largest draught, put hitherto Government launches and small revenue eruisers are the only steam vessels that have traversed its waters. For two hundred and fifty miles it may be navigated by larger ships, and the city of Ng-chow (Wu-chow), within the borders of the province of Kwong- si, be brought into direct communication with the com- mercial world. On our left, as we go down with the carrent, rise the towers and pagodas of many populous towns, while far to the east stretch the plains of Heung-shén, from which many emigrants have gone to the Hawaian Islands.