The present flood originated in the 'V-shaped area between the Grand Canal and the old bed of the Yellow River, about 200 miles from the point the V. For weeks the flood water remained in this area, without affect-Ing either of the streams, Then water entered the Canal, and reached such high stage that the banks broke, first between wan and Yulnho, ind flooded a section of country which had been dry up to that time, The break at Maowoa (Catnest), above Yaowan, on the west bank of the Canal, flooded the country as far west and' southwest as Fushan and Old Pichon.
There the water en= countered the north dyke of the old Yellow River, an impassable barrier, cross-dyke, extending southwest from Maowoa, was repaired, strength-ned, and guarded day and night, to prevent the people on the ollier ide from cutting it On the day of the Autumn Festival, a rong northeast wind drove the waves over this dyke, and part of it was destroyed, 'Then the water came on' toward the intil_it reached the point of the at Dzaoho. There it is hemmed in between the dykes of the Grand Canal and of the old Yellow River, and is piling up higher and higher.
It cannot escape from this cul-de-sac until it rises high anous! to overflow into the cans which is already full and running over.
While there is no way of stating the exact depth of the water in the flooded probably varies from"
inches to about ten feet or more, possibly twenty feet in some places, 'The' one defence which has stood frm thus far, and which seems absolutely safe, is the old Yellow River dyke, The water inside the bed of the river is much lower than usual this season of the year. There has been currant for months, only stagnant pools in various places, separated by dry land, where roads river bed. The dust on the roads in the river bed is ankle deep. All the country southwest of the old wer Is dry, in some places too dry to sow wheat, In church services, people may be heard praying for ain, as well as for the flood re-
"Going Down into the Lake'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.