About 2 o'clock the party decided] to proceed to where the yachts were racing. They had not gone beyond where the firing took place in the morning, when, although they were' hugging the Pootung shore, Canton-_ ese soldiers in uniform, from protected places on lighters on the west bank, opened fire. With the first shot, Mr, Stewart ordered the sy Taodah to put the boat about. Bullets whistled above, in front of and behind them but fortunately not tone struck the boat or any of Me women or children on it. he firing continued until they were out of range.
Through a pair of lars, members of the party could sce the Cantonese uniformed mien take, deliberate aim at them and it seemed to them that it was only because. of Cantonese poor marksmanship, or perhaps the powder was of quality, that they were not struck.
As soon as a soldier had emptied
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.