This is generally spoken of as starting from Huangshibkang, a small wayside port on the Yangtzv, 90 miles below Hankow, where the downward bound steamers drop their passengers into " boat in passing, at the somewlhit inconvenient hour of 2 a.m., and where those bound up collect passen: gers in a similar way, also at a similar
to be accurate the railway really starts uneknoy hour in the daad of night. But from Shilhuiyao, a still smaller place 7 li below Huangshihkang.
STEAMER AND TRAIN PARES, The intending visitor, however, will think twice before he decides on making the journey by steamer, as the steamer authori+ ties, in their Jaudable desire to preserve their fellow foreigners from all the perils and discomfort of such a trip charge the me fare as to Kiukiang, a distance which twice as great and includes a bed and breakfast into the bargain, Native fares, it the ditancy travelled, and are as remark need hardly be ssid, are proportioned to
able for their reasonableness as those levied on the foreigner are for the opp. One wonders when the Steamship Companies will awake to the fact that there is another foreign public in China now, besides that which keeps its racing stables, and do something towards providing it with travelling facilities. One of the largest native passenger boats with n stout crew of six men, can be obtained for ten days for the same sum as is charged for the ten hours' steamer travel, in going and coming from Huangshibkang. costly ECONOMY.
At the Shihbuiyao terminus there are several houses built by the management for the European employes to live in, although. no passer-by is likely to suspect the fact, since not a trace of anything that looks liken foreign house is visible. Ax His Excellency cor ed the sum of $300 each quite sufficient for a residence good enough for his foreign superintendents, there was not much margin for grandeur; hence the in the native shanty stile, Jo storeyed, chimneyless and windowless (originally) and buried low down among the other shanties. Penuriousness like this is likely to prove expensive in the long run. H. E. could hardly have hit on a saving more likely to cost him dear. He may obtain good men, but he can hardly expect to retain them under such treatment. Perhaps, however, it is his idea to dispense with them very soon, a step which will cost him dearest of all.
THE RAILWAY, however, is quite en evidence. Tt comes right down to the river's edge, and termites in a stone wharf with" pontoon front of it. These are furnished with " highly ingenious arrangement of tramway and cars for taking the mineral from the waggons, and delivering it on board the lighters alongside the pontoon, The engines, and a goud part of the rolling stock, may be seen standing here, quite in the open, in order, no doubt, to get quickly acclimatised; the more vulnerable parts of the engines being protected with ced mate, The usual watering tank, signals, telegraph posts and wires, together with a big yamdén for the native officials in charge, complete the outfit of the terminus,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.