The progress of the Huaogpu Conservancy work it parent to the most casual observer, for from morn till might lighters, launches and cargo-poate are busily employed between the Kejao Creek and the Inner Bar. By the kindness of Mr. J. De Ri; ike, and of Mr, Van dor Veen, member of his staff, of this paper spent scene of the operations yy. Ibis necessary to betimes when the tide is favourable, as tink-work has to be performed at high-tide, when the water is slack for about an hour. The first train from Shanghai took Mr. Van der Veoo and the writer to Woosung just in time to ce the principal work of the day. When Woosung was reached the Conservancy Iaonoh hed already left the jetty for Gough Island, and there was nothing for it but to go out to her on s sampan.
The Zinkstak, 'A quarter of sri hour saw us alongside the Isunch, which goes by the ame of Chunpoo, and on board. ing ber I was introduced to Mi Swets, the expert io charge of th sine sent Dutch giant bir} Samne\rork before him, The launch hed 1dfather were employed in che
already been up to Gough Island, and was on her way back to the scene of the morsiog's work, towing the large sinkatuk which was to be sunk. A fuller Gesoription of the sinkstuk will be given later. It must anfice to say here that it ins large mattress of brushwood and reeds, about two feet deep, forty yards Tong, and fifteen yards broad. A large cargo boat, laden with stone, was towed athwart the sinkstuk to prevent the fore-end from sinking—Four more stone-bomber al sosileccrat Inden ze8 followed in it duties to perform, dance. Two bamboos, projecting fromthe inter, marked the spot where the ainkstuk and as these were approached the tow-rope was cast off, and at the same time two sechers were lot down on the side farthest away from the bamboos, Two more anchors were carried out to some distance on the other side, and an anchor was also put down at each and. By leave of the
Cooltes escisted io this work, under the warped into position. Thirty or forty the sinkstuk aa gradually superintendence of two Dutch foremen. The tow-rope was cast off about 7.45 and a quarter of an hour's manavring was sufficient to bring the into the correct position. theo pushed down at each corner, and firmly lashed in position. The cargo-boats came up and took up positions at each side and at the upper end. Then lanka were let down, the coolies formed up in lines, on the sinkstuk itself, and stones were passed from band to band until they reached the last coolie of the line, who flung them down on the brushwood. It was not long before half the sinkstuk was awash, and the coolies then retired to the boats, with the exception of the foreman, who in his eothusissm to carry out instructions of his superiors ran kneedeop into the water, tripped up, and fell on hia back witha resounding splash— chorus of laughter from his fellow. workers. The most interesting part of the work was yet to come. The Dutch foremen took up their stations at the ends of the boat that lay across the top of the sinkstuk, and at a given signal bogan to heave the heaviest stones in the best into the coraers of the mattress. An indescribable din ensued. The coolies hurled stones on to the almost submerged sinkstuk with a will, and for several minutes the yellow water hissed and splashed under the bower of stones, while the coolies added tothe din by yells, The end of the inkatuk had no sooner begun to sink than the poate closed in over it and nes were abowered upon it until it reached the bottom, about fourteen feet below. Half still remained floating, and the coolies continued their efforte until a final shower of big stones took the other end to the bottom also, Then " cargo boat that had hitherto taken but little part in the fray over the and delivered another load of big stones, to keep the mattress in place. In all about sixty tone of stones, varying in light from twenty to one-hundred pounds each, were used. Nothing now remained bat to recover the six anchors, and this was easily accomplished, as they rare buyyed, and the lsteninge wore carefully arranged for the purpose.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.