The first night from Fowehow we anchored at Fengdu. The next morning we reached Goo Jia Dien the outer edge of the much feared district. Here we had our first lence that the military were going after the robbers earnest. We anchored to inquire bout conditions below. The river was reported clear. As we were jabour to pull out again, our attention was attracted to a crowd of people some 200 yards above us on the river bank, In a moment the Jcrowd opened sufficiently to let a couple of soldiers with a prisoner sss through. The latter had his hands tied behind his back and was being rather roughly shoved along.
Lsvishing 40. travel after Captain suggested that we anchor here for the night. But. it was this place that "we il_stecl plates on the river in Decem= rally we not keen to. spend the night, here nor ina small unprotected "Chinese boat. But that is what "we had {to do. As soon as we anchored we went up to see the officer in charge. lof the place. On our way up, along, the river bank, we ran across half Jo dozen bodies' of robbers that had been recently executed. On reach+ ing the soldiers' headquarters found the officer busy" heaving eave, On their knees before him, were three pr one of then jo mere boy in his teens. The officer vent word that it would be per. ffeetly safe to anchor there for the night.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.