Not for 29 years have the rivers been so full as they are at present. Hundreds of houses in the suburbs of Chungking and Kiangpeh are submerged, while scores of tenements have been completely washed away by the tremendous floods. At the Tsa0- tien gate, which is the principal gate of the city, the water rose so. high s to intrude within the ety and considering that Chung-King stands igh the fact is regarded as an uncanny omen by the superstitious classes. "Even the city is attacked by the flood! What does it portend? Surely the Empire is tottering and evil days are in store for the black-haired people?" There is widespread suffering both in Chungking and Kiangpeh although some Title is bel dano bythe authorities and the well-to-do shopkeepers to allovito the distress, Ca this side of the Little River the Taotai has contributed Tls. 2,000, the Pahien Tls. 500, and others proportionate sums, to cope with the circumstances of the time. walk round the city. walls has revealed a very pitiable spectacle in the shape of men, women, and Children surrounded by their goods and chattels, squatting as they can, trying to find some shelter from the fierce rays of the sun by day and the rain by night. In other lands, of course, hospitals, warehouses, empty tenements, hotel, ete, would be thrown open to receive them, but in tis" prt'of China the sutra. compelled to find shelter where and bow they can. Consequently there is to be witnessed to-day in this city a picture Ywretchedness and misery whicl is a disgrace to humanity. It did not, however, Fequire the present incident to prove. that the generous juice in the nature of the ordinary Chinese is not of a high order. Fortunately the flood is abating, and doubt: Jess the water will fall just as rapidly as it rose, Up-country rains are the cause of the present torrents, and I regret to have to add bint much life as been lost thereby.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.