Wo-son 
 GC376 
 
 
 
 TSS^tMi^ ^lIMQi- 
 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE WASON 
 
 CHINESE 
 COLLECTION 
 
Cornell University Library 
 GC 376.M82 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023274164 
 
REPORT 
 
 ON THE 
 
 BOEE or THE TSIEN-TANG KIANG, 
 
 BY 
 
 Commander MOORE, E.N., H.M.S. "Rambler." 
 
 PUBLISHED BY ORDER OP THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE, ADMIRALTY, 
 
 AND SOLD BY 
 
 J. D. POTTEE, Agent for the Sale of Admiralty Charts, 
 
 31, POtTLTRY, AND 11, KING STREET, TOWER HILL. 
 
 1888. 
 
 Price Two Shillings and Sixpence, 
 
CHINA. 
 
 REPORT ON THE BORE OF THE TSIEN. 
 TANG KIANG. 
 
 H.M.S. " Rambler," 
 
 NiNGPO, 
 
 bth November 1888, 
 Sir, 
 
 The survey in Chinese waters by H.M.S. " Rambler " approach- 
 ing its close it seemed a fitting termination to a long series of tidal 
 observations in this region that, before the end of this, the final 
 season, some observations should be made of the Bore of the 
 Tsien-tang. , 
 
 The published information concerning this special tidal 
 phenomenon is exceedingly meagre, even respecting those rivers 
 where it occurs in the British Islands ; and with regard to this 
 particular instance — the Tsien-tang — scarcely anything is known 
 about it. Although it occurs twice a day throughout the year, 70 
 miles from Shanghai, and within an easy walk of Hang-chau, the 
 once famous capital of the Empire, now that of the province of 
 Chekiang ; and though the access to the river on which it travels is 
 easy from the Yangtze Kiang, the mere mention of the existence 
 of the phenomenon is all that can be found in published works of 
 either an official or non-oflficial character.* 
 
 I therefore considered it would be a legitimate deflection from my 
 surveying duties in the Chusan archipelago, to spend two or three 
 days in the Hang-chau estuary, and endeavour to find out the height, 
 speed, origin, and general character of the Bore of the Tsien-tang- 
 kiang ; and at Full Moon in September, before visiting Shanghai for 
 coal and leave, I proceeded in Her Majesty's ship under my command 
 to a position at the south-west end of Chapu bay. I have, now, the 
 honour to submit an account of our observations and the means by 
 which they were obtained, dividing my remarks into I. — Narrative 
 
 * The latest edition of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary mentions the Bore as one 
 which in reality deserves the name. Where the Author got his information from is 
 a mystery. 
 
 S.0. 10833,— 200.— 1/89, Wt, 19231. P, & S, A 2 
 
of boat expeditions for the purpose of observing the Bore. 2.— 
 Summary of observations, with particulars of height, appearance, 
 ,and. times of passing the observer. III. — Native view of the Bore. 
 Opinion as to the cause of the phenomenon. Review of the 
 observations and general conclusions. 
 
 The appendices consist- of copies of tide journals, comparisons of 
 difEerences of level of the sea at certain stations, evidence and 
 proofs as to height and speed, returns of astronomical observations. 
 
 On the morning of the 19th September the " Rambler " was 
 moored in 17 fathoms north of an island situated close to the south- 
 west cape of Chapu bay, which was named after the ship, and which 
 proved to be in latitude 30° 26' 1" N., and longitude 120° 58' 4" E. 
 
 This is not a good anchorage ; but it was necessary to erect a 
 tide pole on the island to take observations for latitude and longitude 
 and so forth ; and no better could be obtained. Navigation west of 
 Rambler island is attended with danger not only on account of the 
 shoal water but the rapid tides and overfalls, especially • the first 
 violent rush of the flood, which, though here seldom adopting the 
 distinctive character of a Bore, is of sufficient force to test the 
 strongest ground tackle.* Lieutenant Simpson was directed to 
 obtain the geographical position, and conduct the tidal observations 
 at this station. He succeeded in putting up his pole and starting the 
 record by 9.30 a.m. on the 20th. 
 
 At 8.15 on the morning of the 20th September, the steam cutter 
 "Pandora" (in my charge) ; the sailing cutter "Brunswick" in charge 
 of Lieutenant Purey-Cust, with a reduced crew and party of officers 
 comprising Mr. Dawson, Mr. Beal, and Doctor Bassett Smith ; and the 
 steam cutter " Gulnare " in charge of Lieutenant Parry, left the ship 
 with instruments, tide poles, and coal and provisions for a week. 
 The distance to the entrance of the river was about 30 miles ; the 
 flood had begun, and I hoped to carry it up behind the Bore (which I 
 believed formed at the mouth of the river) to the city, a distance of 
 about 45 miles. I must here remark that what I call the entrance to 
 the Tsien-tang-kiang, is that part where the coast of the right or south 
 bank trends abruptly to the southward, and where Haining is situated 
 on the north bank. The area east of this will be alluded to as the 
 Hang-chau estuary. Lieutenant Parry was to be left with a tide 
 pole and instruments at the island supposed to exist at the mouth of 
 
 * Page 406 China Sea Directory, Vol. iii., contains the account of an accident to 
 H.M.S. " Flamer " (commanded, I believe, by the present Admiral Bosanquet) from 
 this cause. She was some 2 or 3 miles west of Rambler island. 
 
the river (see chart, No 1,262), and another tide pole was to be erected 
 near the city. 
 
 Six or seven miles west of Rambler island the marks on the rocks 
 indicated a far smaller range of tide than in Chapu "bay. 
 
 I have no figures to support my statement ; but I believe the rise 
 and fall to be higher at the island than at any other point in the 
 estuary. 
 
 After passing the islands ofE the Kanpu (of Marco Polo) we rah into 
 5 feet. About 9.45 a junk, tacking about inshore, was spoken with. 
 The master of her said there was more water outside than inshore. 
 If we wanted to go up to the city along the shore, we must anchor 
 and wait till the afternoon. He said nothing about the Bore.* On 
 hearing the interpreter's account, I edged out towards the middle of 
 the estuary, getting 4 to 7 feet, the stream still in our favour ; and 
 selecting what appeared to be the most likely gap in the mountains 
 answering to the course on the chart for the entrance to the river, 
 steered for it. All went well until 11.30, by which time wo must 
 have steamed over the ground 14 or 15 miles in a S.W, by W. 
 direction from Kanpu. Here I touched the ground, and being unable 
 to stop the boat from going on to the bank, let go the anchor. The 
 cable instantly ran out to the clinch and carried away some fittings 
 in the bows, injuring one of the crew, the boat swung violently round 
 as far as the keel would let her ; and, signals notwithstanding, the 
 boats astern, being unable to stop their way, rapidly came up to the 
 same spot. 
 
 The "Gulnare," casting off the "Brunswick," judiciously kept 
 herself afloat ; but the latter fell upon the " Pandora," and bounding 
 off, drove on to the bank, and over it, until brought up by her anchor. 
 To my relief, she was seen riding easily as soon as the tide floated 
 her, her smaller draught affording her a great advantage in not 
 opposing so much resistance as the steam cutters. As soon as the 
 "Pandora " floated, I went full speed ahead, but found it impossible 
 to slacken the cable, and that we were driving rapidly to the north- 
 west with 31 fathoms chain out. Three minature waves passed, 
 fortunately not putting any water in our laden boats. The " Gulnare " 
 finding herself unable to stem the stream also anchored.f 
 
 * Two hours later, when we were driving with anchors down before the after-rush, 
 this junk was seen flying into the river on the back of the Bore. No doubt, he was 
 waiting for the first overfalls to pass by. 
 
 t This was the commencement of the southern branch of the Bore. We had 
 started an hour too soon. 
 
We -were forced to remain here one hour, the steaitl cutters 
 gradually dragging past the "Brunswick" to the north-west. By 
 patent log Mr. Parry found the speed of the stream to be 10 to 11 
 knots an hour, and the water to rise 9 feet in 30 minutes. As I had 
 the dingy astern it was difftcult to keep my log clear, but it showed 
 a rate of 9 knots for the first rush, and the tail was rievolving against 
 the bilge of the boat astern. 
 
 In page 407 China Sea directory, volume 3, there is an account of 
 Captain Collinson's experiences near the same spot — evidently about 
 the same time of tide. He found the speed of the flood to be 11^ 
 knots. His island, Pe-yu-shan, I could not identify ; but a line of 
 very low cultivated land was seen to the southward. 
 
 At 12.45, the steam having slackened, we were able to weigh the 
 anchors. After consultation with Lieutenant Cust, I steered to the 
 northward, and eventually found the entrance of the Tsien-tang 
 at 4 p.m. It proved to be very low land, and 8 miles in error in 
 latitude.* A junk was observed standing up the river, and it 
 appeared to be the best course to follow her, bearing in mind that 
 she, as well as ourselves, had to find a place of safety before the 
 arrival of the next Bore. As I neared this junk, she put her helm 
 up, and beached on the south bank about 4.15, the tide having now 
 fallen about 6 feet out of 19. I immediately ran ashore as close to 
 her as possible ; but drawing three feet to her two, did not reach the 
 same place by 300 or 400 yards. The ebb stream was now making 
 fast, and Lieutenant Parry, with the "Brunswick" in tow, though he 
 made every endeavour to reach me, was unable to do so ; and both 
 boats grounded about one third of a mile to the eastward, a deep 
 gutter of swiftly-running water being between us. The junk men, 
 on being consulted, assured me that the four boats were in safe 
 positions ; but that care must be observed in laying out the anchors. 
 The Bore would pass along the opposite shore, but the flood stream, 
 after it had passed, would approach the boats from the north-east with 
 some violence. 
 
 Later on, when the water had fallen another 6 feet or so, a junk 
 man and the interpreter found their way across to Lieutenant Cust 
 with a letter ; and every precaution was taken by that officer and 
 Lieutenant Parry to guard against injury to their boats. The anchors, 
 which weighed 60 lbs., were buried and backed up — ^in the case of 
 
 * There is no island off the mouth, as delineated in Chart No. 1,262. 
 
the " Brunswick " by a 30 lb. anchor— in that of the " Gulnare " by 
 4 sinkers, each weighing ^ cwt. The " Gulnare " had 33 fathoms 
 chain taut, with a 2-cwt. bag of coal on the bight of it, 1^ fathoms 
 from the anchor. The " Brunswick " had 30 fathoms grapnel taut, 
 and two 2-cwt. bags of coal secured to the grapnel near the anchor. 
 In each case the coal bags were secured at the mouth sufficiently, as 
 it was thought, to prevent the contents falling out ; and the bottom 
 was tolerable holding ground of sand and mud. The " Pandora's " 
 anchor was buried, and two small weights attached to the bight of 
 the chain., Dingy fast to " Pandora." 
 
 The keels of the " Pandora " and dingy were about 10 to 11 feet 
 above the low line, and those of the " Gulnare " and " Brunswick " 
 between 6 and 8 feet. The distance of the two former boats from 
 the waterway of the river at dead low tide was about three-quarters 
 a mile ; that of the two latter about half a mile. 
 
 On his return, the junk man who had assisted to lay out the 
 anchors of the two outside boats, informed me, through the in- 
 terpreter, that all was now secure, and departed to obtain per- 
 mission from his master to pilot us to the city on the following 
 morning. 
 
 It was a calm, still night, with a little rain hanging about, the 
 moon being obscured. The murmur of the Bore in the distance was 
 heard at llh. 29m. ; it could be seen at llh. 55m., and it passed us 
 with a roar at 12h'. 20m. As the Chinese had predicted, it was well 
 over on the opposite shore ; and after looking at the light of the 
 " Brunswick ' and making my notes, I laid down for half an hour, 
 feeling no concern as to the safety of any of the party. When the 
 water pattered up to the bilge of my own boat, which was not till 
 about one o'clock, I had the bag of coal, which had been placed 
 -under the bilges instead of shores, removed from the off side to that 
 where I expected the. rush, and made ready to haul in the other 
 immediately the boat floated. Unfortunately the stream, which came 
 when there was only a foot of water over the sand, took us on the 
 wrong bow, and bound the boat up against the still immersed bag of 
 coal, heeling her over to a current running at a speed of at least 
 8 knots an hour. After one or two struggles, during which she fell 
 over once on the starboard bilge, but not long enough, or steadily 
 enough, to allow of the bag being hauled on board, she floated, and 
 the bag, though closed, as I imagined, sufficiently to prevent coal 
 falling out, was hauled up empty. At 2.15 the sounding was 9 feet, 
 
8 
 
 and the stream slack. Before 3 a.m. it was ranning briskly in the 
 opposite direction.* 
 
 The rudder post and propeller guard of the " Pandora " (no doubt 
 wrenched in the morning) having been broken off, and being 
 unable to steer, even with an oar, I was obliged now to beach for 
 repairs. At daylight nothing could be seen of the " Gulnare " and 
 "Brunswick." One native assured me that they were 6 or 7 miles 
 higher up the river, but his statement was not corroborated. The 
 bank on which they had beached was searched, and no signs were 
 xound of anchors or cables, or any of the gear. This allayed my 
 apprehension, for if one or both had foundered, at least an anchor 
 and some remains of a boat or fittings would have been left on the 
 sand. It was not, however, until I floated in the afternoon, and 
 steamed up the south bank of the river, that I had the satisfaction 
 of feeling certain all was well. I found the " Gulnare " and 
 " Brunswick " aground about 3 miles from their original position. 
 Lieutenant Purey-Cust's notes on the occurrence are as follow : — 
 " 4.15, grounded in " Brunswick," close to " Gulnare," opposite 
 " Haining Pagoda, about a mile from the south shore, on hard sand 
 "and mud (there were several quicksands in the vicinity), the 
 " ripples on the sand were distinctly marked by the flow of the 
 " previous Bore, and the Chinaman who showed us in what direction 
 " to lay our anchors out did so by reference to their direction. 
 " Moonlight, but cloudy ; light air from the westward. About 
 " 11.30 p.m. a low murmur was first heard to the eastward, which 
 " very gradually increased to a roar as the Bore got close. At 
 " 12.10 it could be seen approaching, apparently in the form of a 
 " steep slope of white water overfalling and pouring over itself as it 
 " advanced. Only one wave could be seen, and the river appeared 
 " filled up immediately behind to its full height. At 12.15 the wave 
 " passed us outside in the channel, and at 12.20 the overflow out- 
 " wards over the flats — ^from the big wave — struck us at an angle of 
 " 45° with the general direction of the river. We experienced no 
 " actual wave, but only a violent rush of water in a succession of big 
 " ripples, the boats shipped no water, only a little spray. In a few 
 " moments the boat was afloat in a current of from 7 to 8 knots (the 
 " direction of the current, both now and after was the same as the 
 " first rush, viz., up river and towards the south bank). In the first 
 " ten minutes the water rose 9 feet, after which the boat began to 
 " drag, and no reliable observations could be taken. A few minutes 
 
 * High water that night proved to be 3.15. 
 
" after a sort of reflex wave was seen coining up rapidly astern, 
 " apparently the rebound from the bank, but simply an undulation, 
 " and nothing dangerous, and there was no alteration in the current. 
 " Twice after the passage of the Bore there were rushes of water, 
 " and increased violence of the stream, accompanied by a few ripples 
 " from the old direction ; but no signs of a second or third wave 
 " outside ; the last rush was the most violent of all, and the stream 
 " certainly could not have been less than 10 knots at the very least. 
 " At 1.10 the stream slackened, and the boats, which had been drag 
 " ging in company (although the " Gulnare " had been steaming full 
 " speed all the time) for about 20 to 30 minutes, brought up in 6 feet 
 " about 3 miles from where we started. In a few minutes it was 
 " perfectly slack water. We proceeded in-shore, where a fairly 
 " strong ebb (eddy ?) was running. The " Brunswick " was anchored 
 " with 60-lb. anchor and 30-fathomB grapnel, backed up with a 30-lb. 
 " anchor, two 2-cwt. bags of coal secured to the grapnel near the 
 " anchor. On weighing, the coal, with the exception of about ^ cwt. 
 " in one bag, was found to have all washed out ; and its place taken by 
 " hard sand, tightly packed into the bags ; the pea of the anchor was 
 " like polished silver from the friction in dragging." 
 
 From Lieutenant Parry, I learn that the " Gulnare " had a bad time 
 of it. She floated almost immediately the water touched her keel, 
 and then made a bound over to port, bringing a severe strain on 
 cable and fittings, and heeling over until the wash cloth was nearly 
 in the water. She then commenced to drive to the westward, past 
 the " Brunswick," which boat, however, followed in a few minutes, 
 and kept pace with her. When hove up, the pea of the anchor and 
 the greater part of the chain were as bright as polished silver.* 
 
 It has been necessary to trouble you with these details in order to 
 show the after effects of the Bore on three boats apparently in safety, 
 and the nearest of which cannot have been less than half-a-mile from 
 it, and 6^ to 7 feet above its foot. The reason of this sluice which 
 follows the first crested onset of the flood, I shall be able to show 
 under heading III. when discussing the records of tide and com- 
 parisons of levels. 
 
 The uneveness of the surface of the flood was an extraordinary 
 feature in this night's observations. Lieutenant Gust obtained a 
 sounding of 9 feet before the water reached my boat ; and yet he 
 grounded in the afternoon before my cutter was dry. Allowing for 
 
 * Those wio have had practical experience of the effect of a tumultuous current of 
 great velocity will recognise the skill which brought these three small boats out of 
 their dangerous situation with so little damage.^W. J. L. W. 
 
16 
 
 a slight error in the sounding due to an 8-knot stream, and for both 
 his time and mine to he only approximate after Bore had passed, yet 
 it was certain that he dragged past me with plenty of water under 
 him some minutes before the water reached me ; and consequently 
 the river must have beeti out of level — so to speak — at least 3 or 4 feet 
 for a quarter of an hour. The fissure between the banks may have 
 had something to do with this. 
 
 The Bore of 21st September midday passed the Pagoda at Haining 
 at 12.47, and being enhanced by mirage, presented a fine spectacle. 
 At 4 p.m. I joined Lieutenant Oust and secured in a safe position 
 
 3 miles west of the berth of the previous night and 1^ miles from 
 the low line of the river abreast. The night Bore was heard at 12.20 ; 
 it passed Haining at 12.52 and the boats at Ih. 5m. It was too far 
 off to enable me to make any notes of its height and appearance. 
 
 Lieutenant Gust had secured a pilot who agreed to take us to the 
 city ; but the " Brunswick " did not float until 4 a.m., an hour later 
 than was expected, and then only by removing all her stores. We 
 found to our disappointment that Springs were passed. On cross 
 examining the pilot, it turned out that the navigation to Hang-chau 
 left no safe margin for delays ; and I had to remember that if the 
 steam cutters took the ground after 5 o'clock, there was only one 
 course — to remove as much gear as we could, and if a sufficient 
 number of men could not be ob'tained to carry them, to abandon the 
 boats * to the mercy of the mid-day Bore. Nearly all our coal was 
 gone. Wood could only be purchased with difficulty. The many 
 miles of sand flats between the river and the ship, and the knowledge 
 now in my possession that the Bore originated about 12 or 14 miles 
 outside, almost as near, in fact, to the " Rambler " as to the river, 
 demanded the greatest caution in returning after Springs. 
 
 Under these circumstances, I did not feel justified in going on to 
 the city, or even remaining in the river with the boats (one of the 
 cutters being seriously damaged), and reluctantly decided to return to 
 the " Rambler." 
 
 The pilot was therefore questioned and undertook to navigate the 
 boats to Ohapu bay. 
 
 One instance will show the difficulty of navigation in this river, 
 even for small boats. As you are aware our steam cutters can count 
 upon a speed of 5 knots an hour. I wanted to go over to Haining at 
 
 4 o'clock to arrange for landing Mr. Parry and for the conveyance of 
 
 * I have since found out there are several junk platforms along the sea wall ; but 
 the pilot at the time declared that there were none. 
 
11 
 
 the officers to Hang-chau, but was unable to do so for this reason. 
 The distance ivas 3 miles. Time, high water. It would take half- 
 an-hour to go over, perhaps less ; say we stopped half-an-hour ; the 
 return would have occupied at least 2 hours, as the out-going stream 
 would be running 5 or 6 knots in the channel. This would bring us 
 back by 8 o'clock, and at that time it was not possible anywhere, upor 
 down, or on either bank of the river, to secure a steam cutter clear 
 of the Bore. 
 
 During the forenoon of the 22nd a base of 7789 feet was measured 
 on the South bank, and the speed of the mid-day Bore observed. It 
 proved to be 12"7 knots an hour. The height was also ascertained 
 and the range of ordinary springs measured and found to be 19^ feet. 
 Lieutenant Oust, Mr. Dawson and Doctor Bassett-Smith procured a 
 junk to cross the river to Haining after the Bore passed ; and from 
 Haining they proceeded in the rear of the night Bore to Hang-chau, 
 eventually joining the " Rambler " at Shanghai. At high water I 
 started, with Mr. Parry, on our return journey. The best channel 
 is along the north shore of the estuary, and the distance 29 miles. 
 After 4 p.m. a strong ebb stream set out ; but the pilot would not take 
 the boats on after dark, but secured them in a bay under Chi-san 
 cape, 12 miles east of Haining, giving out that he would not move in 
 the morning if there was any wind. 
 
 In this bay which I have named " Bore Shelter bay," and which is 
 protected to the south by a long rocky point with a small pagoda or 
 beacon at the end of it, the Bore is not felt ; but during the first 
 watch we could hear continual overfalls outside of us, and the water 
 where we were grounding our boats rose and fell incessantly for 
 2 hours as much as 3 feet in the most singiilar manner, without any 
 surface disturbance, showing the struggle in progress between the 
 outgoing stream and the first of the flood. At 4 a.m. on the 23rd, 
 it was calm, and we resumed our journey, reaching the " Rambler " 
 at 6 o'clock. 
 
 Lieutenant Balfour reported to me that there had been a very 
 severe strain on the cables with the first of the ebb ; that it had 
 been found necessary to shift one shackle, a link being bent ; and 
 that the day Bore of the 21st had commenced to form to seaward of 
 the anchorage and had passed the ship in the form of an overfall 
 of sufficient height to throw water into the mizen chains. It was 
 evident that the stay of the ship should be shortened as much . as 
 possible. On the next morning — Monday — the tide party was 
 removed from Rambler island and the vessel was unmoored ; not 
 
12 
 
 towever, before another shackle had been rendered useless. A north- 
 east wind, of moderate strength, set in with the first of the flood, 
 and a severe tide rippling surrounded the ship throwing water on to 
 the poop. I endeavoured to weigh and get to sea ; but in an unlucky 
 moment a swift rush came round an island on the bow, suddenly- 
 bringing a strain on the cable at short stay. The pauls of the 
 capstan and all the capstan bars, except two, carried away, and two 
 men were injured, not, I am glad to say— as it turned out— very 
 seriously. We then commenced to drag; and had to veer and 
 prepare to slip. Steam being ready at a high pressure, I held on as 
 long as possible, and was enabled at last, when the stream slackened, 
 to raise the anchor. 
 
 This overfall lasted two hours, the water rising on Rambler island 
 in a manner visible to the eye from the deck of the ship, and attain- 
 ing a greater height 2 hours before high water th"an its maximum of 
 previous days. 
 
 At 4 p.m. we passed Chapu, reached West Volcano island at 
 8.30 p.m., removed the tide party, and proceeded to Shanghai 
 on the following day. 
 
 Our excursion to the Tsien-tang dispelled two illusions under which 
 
 1 had been labouring. Of course one does not visit an estuary of 
 the shape of the Hang-chau gulf without anticipating very strong 
 tides, and preparing for them ; but it was entirely contrary to our 
 previous experience to find these 8 to 11 knot streams running over 
 sand, only just covered with water. I imagined that they were con- 
 fined to the channels. Moreover, I was under the impression that 
 Bores in general, and that of the Tsien-tang in particular, originated 
 at the mouth, or inside the mouth, of the rivers which they traverse, 
 and not 12 to 15 miles outside of it. 
 
 Steam cutters, drawing as they do, 3 feet, and offering so much 
 resistance to the water, prove to be unsuitable boats for the navigation 
 of this river. The 10-knot rush comes when there is from one to 
 
 2 feet water over the sand flats, and then there is a violent struggle 
 to get afloat, unless the level of the crest of the Bore happens to be 
 above the level required to float the boat, in which case they are 
 lifted at once. The junks found in the river or the estuary draw 
 1^ to 2 feet, and their bottoms are quite flat. They drive a pole 
 through a hole in the fore part of the boat, and hammer it down 
 into the sand, keeping their anchors ready to hold them directly they 
 are water borne. The shape of the sloping prow and their build 
 
13 
 
 altogether causes them to rise lightly over a great surface rush of 
 water. 
 
 Our opportunities of seeing the Bore had been so" far good ; but 
 some questions respecting the phenomenon still remained un- 
 answered ; and it was necessary to ascertain the geographical positions 
 of Hang-chau and of the mouth of the river. I therefore engaged 
 9, house boat, and at daybreak on 30th September, started up <the 
 Wusung river, taking with me an interpreter, three Chinese servants, 
 two chronometers, and the necessary instruments for sun observations. 
 Mr. Grant, of Messrs. Boyd & Co.'s building yard, kindly directed 
 one of his launches to tow me 60 miles on the journey, our own 
 steamboats being under repair. Owing to this lift the walled town 
 of Ka-sei was passed at 5 p.m., and Kua-shing on the Grand Canal 
 at midnight ; Sak-mun-sing a few hours l^er. Part of the journey 
 on the Grand Canal was made by tracking, part by sailing. At 2.30 
 a.m. on 2nd October, the boat was stopped at the outer canal gates 
 of Hang-chau. The gates were open at 6 a.m. and we arrived at the 
 jetty half an hour later. The entire journey is about 110 miles. 
 
 After a walk of over 4 miles, I reached th^ Bishop's house, 
 Ma-sao-yang, which is situated slightly to the north-east of the centre 
 of the .city, and during the day, equal altitudes of the sun were 
 observed for longitude and circum-meridian altitude sun for latitude. 
 The ground is very tremulous, which is not to be wondered at 
 considering that there are 500,000 people around, the majority of whom 
 are walking about all day. I cannot rely upon either the latitude or 
 longitude of Ma-sao-yang to 15". On the following day, after an 
 interview with the Bishop of Mid-China, who arrived in the morning 
 from a confirmation tour, I proceeded to Haining. 
 
 Owing to the kind offices of Dr. Main, the missionary, the Louta of 
 my house boat had been induced to bring her over a pao into the city ; 
 and I was enabled to proceed on the higher level instead of going 
 back and branching ofE from the Grand Canal which would have made 
 the meridian distance to Haining one day longer. The direct distance 
 between Ma-sao-yang and Bhota pagoda Haining is 20'7 miles ; by 
 canal about 30 miles.; and the journey occupied 29 hours, the crew 
 sculling in watches of three each. We arrived at Haining at 8.30 a.m., 
 on the 4th October, and at once proceeded to the Bhota pagoda, which is 
 I5 miles from where the boat secured. Satisfactory equal altitudes of 
 the sun for longitude, and circum-meridian altitudes sun for latitude 
 were obtained during the day, and the mid-day Bore observed. The 
 natives were excessively curious. If the Siamese twins had appeared 
 
14 
 
 on the scene, and commenced to take sights with two sextants and 
 artificial horizons, they could not have excited more wonder ; and 
 yet these people must soon have discovered that I had the same 
 complement of arms and legs as themselves. 
 
 They were, however, not ofEensive. All they wanted was to gaze 
 at and, if possible, touch the foreign devil. They formed themselves 
 into a comet-shaped mass, and when asked to keep quiet while I 
 listened to the beats of the chronometer, remained silent for twenty 
 minutes. 
 
 Later on in the day, I found that a cordon of spunyam, held by 
 my Chinese servants, was sufBcient to keep off the crowd. Some of 
 the men remained staring all day, going away to get their chow and 
 returning to the barrier. , » 
 
 Prom Haining, notes were" made of six Bores about the New Moon. 
 Bad weather set in on the 6th October, and after the mid-day Bore of 
 the 7th, I returned to the " Rambler " at Shanghai, descending to the 
 lower level by a pao some 4 miles west of Haining, and entering the 
 Grand Canal at Sak-mun-sing. 
 
 The " Rambler " was reached at 11.30 p.m., 9th October. The 
 distance direct is about 70 miles, and I believe there is a way of going 
 which is nearly straight ; by the route we took it must have been 
 nearly 90 miles. 
 
 Satisfactory equal altitudes of the sun were obtained on the 10th 
 for the errors of chronometers. 
 
 This gave a passage rate of 11 days. The meridian distances are 
 shown in Appendix E. 
 
 A few observations are necessary respecting Haining, in order to 
 show you the manner by which the height of Bores was obtained. 
 As before remarked, this town is at the mouth of the Tsien-tang- 
 kiang, on the north or left bank. The Bhota Pagoda, built ages 
 ago to solicit a good Fungshui to keep out the flood, is the most 
 favourable point of view from which to see the Bore approach, and 
 from which to watch it enter the river as a whole after the junction 
 of its two branches, and its conflict with the sea wall. It is here, 
 that it is first seen as one unbroken compact cascade, and where it 
 commences its majestic progress in one ridge towards the city. 
 From Haining there is a busy export of rice, bean cake, cloth, char- 
 coal, cotton, and bamboo paper. Samshu spirit, salt, and fish are 
 brought to it. The junks, of which sometimes a dozen may be seen 
 loading or unloading at the same time, draw from IJ to 2 feet, empty, 
 
and grovmd li hours to 2 hours after high-water on a platform of stones 
 inclosed by piles alongside the sea wall. The attached sketch will 
 best show how this platform is constructed, and how it is protected 
 from the Bore by a massive buttress at the eastern end 253 feet long 
 (i.e. parallel to the sea wall) and 66 feet wide, which is semi-elliptical 
 in shape ; and deflects the flood stream before it reaches the shelter. 
 From the estuary south-east of Haining, the junk platform is pro- 
 tected by a spit of sand, dry at low water, round which the southern 
 branch of the flood must pass. Unless, therefore, the buttress is 
 destroyed, or the south bank of the river changes its shape, the force 
 of the Bore cannot be experienced by a junk on the platform, though 
 the side of the cascade will wash along the piles which confine the 
 stones. 
 
 This shelter, abreast the Pagoda, is 1,100 yards long, 20 feet wide, 
 and 7 to 8 feet above low water ordinary spring tide. At the west 
 end of it, there is another buttress protecting a shelter on a higher 
 level, of which Mr. Cust made the following measurements : — 
 
 Total, 29 feet above L W. ord. spring tide. 
 
 BFT 
 
 _-^ L. W. Sp. 
 
 -^ 
 
 ABOUT 20 FT 
 
 The shelters, and I understand that there are others up the river, 
 are well inside of a direct line from buttress to buttress. 
 
 The sea wall, abreast the Pagoda, is 23^ feet high above low water 
 ordinary spring tide, and 16 feet above the junk platform. The side 
 is cut in steps (15) like those of a dock, but only 4 inches broad ; so 
 that the side of a junk rising and falling does not lodge. They may 
 strike the wall, and in fact often do, when the spring tide Bores pass, 
 but rudely built as they are, no harm comes of it. When the Bore 
 is heard approaching, the junk master looks to his warps, lays out 
 extra ropes if he thinks it will be a high cascade, and summonses his 
 crew, who stand by with poles and boat-hooks. When the after- 
 wash has passed and he is fairly afloat, he is able to carry on with 
 his loading, 
 
16 
 
 The water must be 9 feet high to float an empty junk. For the 
 reasons I have mentioned, and because the bank, though steep-to 
 from the channel of the river, is actually dry for 3 or 4 feet outside 
 the piles which confine the junk platform ; the side of the Bore is 
 never so high as the crest over the deep water. Thus, if at the first 
 rush I observe that the piles are hidden and the junks afloat, as was 
 the case on Sunday, 7th October, and it is plain that the crest of the 
 cascade is 2 or 3 feet higher than the side of it, I report, with con- 
 fidence, the height of the Bore as 10 to 11 feet. 
 
 The term Bore as meant in this letter is the crest of the cascade in 
 front of the advancing flood, that part where the water commences 
 to fall over the edge of the plane on to the river beneath. 
 
 The water invariably rises, within fifteen minutes after the passage 
 of the Bore, to a height above it of from one quarter to one half its 
 own height. This is not, strictly speaking, the Bore, and is not 
 included. Again, the surface behind the crest is generally in a state 
 of violent commotion, the waves leaping up many feet above the 
 general level. The height of these waves is not taken into accoimt 
 in recording the measurement of the Bore. 
 
 The attached sketch chart will show the lay of the land and the 
 position of the place of observation with reference to the estuary and 
 opposite side of the river. The Tsien-tang, opposite the Pagoda, is 
 2'4 miles wide, but at low water the breadth of the stream is 0"97. 
 
 The deepest water is some 2 to 4 cables from the north bank, the 
 section being somewhat like this in shape. 
 
 From the statements of the natives and one or two casual sound- 
 ings, I have reason to believe that there are 2 to 3 fathoms, at least, in 
 the channel, at low water springs. One sounding of 7^ fathoms was 
 obtained at high water. 
 
 The sea wall afiEords some evidence of the force of the Bore, and its 
 construction shows what the authorities have thought necessary to 
 oppose it. As it is distinguished by the Chinese from the embank- 
 
17 
 
 ment behind, it was probably built at a different epoch. Both are 
 very old. The two together measure across 80 to 90 feet, of which 
 the sea wall occupies 30 feet. Its top* is 3 to 4 feet above high water 
 ordinary spring tide, and is faced with blocks of stone 5 feet long,. 
 16 inches broad, and 14 inches deep, laid end ways out, and 
 joined together by rivets of iron. Thirty to forty feet inside, on the 
 embankment, there is a mud ridge, 7 to 8 feet high, lined with trees. 
 Beyond the sea wall are the junk shelters and buttresses before 
 described ; the latter are of mud, faced with fascines. 
 
 The sea wall, as distinguished from the embankment behind it, is 
 said to have been built over 500 years. It extends, without inter- 
 ruption, to Chi-san eastward, and up the river some 14 or 15 miles, 
 a total distance of some 26 miles. About 1,000 people are said to be 
 constantly employed on its repair. I have only seen 12 miles of it 
 (that near the Pagoda, and to Bore Shelter bay under Chi-san); but 
 that portion was in excellent condition. The country which it pro- 
 tects is 2 to 6 feet below high water springs. 
 
 The embankment extends with more or less regularity from the 
 Tsien-tang-kiang to Wusung round the Yangtze cape, a distance of 
 120 miles. 
 
 The Bhota pagoda at Haining, which is said to be over a thousand 
 years old, is 120 feet high, hexagonal, six storied, and has 36 bells. 
 The highest gallery is 84 feet above high water, and consequently 
 103 feet above the level of the river before the Bore arrives. The 
 outer wall round the bottom of the Pagoda is distant 30 feet from 
 the edge of the sea wall. 
 
 II. Record of the observations of various Bores about Full Moon, 
 September, and New Moon, October 1888. 
 
 To render this branch of my report intelligible, I beg to draw your 
 attention to the copy of the Tide Journal at Rambler island about 
 Full Moon, Appendix B. You will observe that about one hour 
 after low water there is always a sudden rise of 10 to 12 feet in an 
 hour. This evidently is the birth of the Bore, but as the vast fields 
 of sand dry, or nearly dry, at low water springs are situated to the 
 westward of this station, it seldom adopts the distinctive character — 
 that is, there is no actual travelling cascade — until this quick rise is 
 transferred some miles nearer the river. It is worthy of notice, that the 
 
 * I.e., abreast the Pagoda. West of the Pagoda, half a mile, there are places 
 where it is 9 to 10 feet above high water. 
 
 S.O. 10833, B 
 
18 
 
 number of feet in the jump of one hour corresponds "with the height 
 of a spring tide Bore at Haining ; and is five times as great as the 
 rise of water at West Volcano island during the same interval. 
 
 FDLL MOON. 
 
 20 September On 20 September, no remarkable overfall was noticed on board 
 Day Bore. ^ » -n t.i 
 
 the ship, moored N. | E. 4^ cables from the summit of Eambler 
 
 . island ; but the water on the pole at the island rose suddenly from 
 
 8 feet 3 inches below the mean level at IX. 30 a.m, to 5 feet 11 inches 
 above mean level at XI. 0. The boats of the " Rambler," being at that 
 time S.E. by S., 12 to 13 miles from the entrance to the Tsien-tang- 
 kiang, experienced a violent rush of water to the N .W. at the rate of 
 10 knots an hour, at XI. 30, with miniature rippling and rise of water 
 
 9 feet in 30 minutes. The boats were 8 or 9 miles south of the proper 
 channel to the river, and therefore did not encounter the main Bore. 
 
 ,,20 September , About X. p.m. overfalls were first noticed on board the 
 
 frjififfht Bore. 
 
 '■ " Rambler ; " and the water rose rapidly on the pole from 8 feet 
 
 10 inches below mean level at IX. 30 to 5 feet 9 inches above mean 
 level at XI. 0. The boats were aground at mean level- on the south 
 bank of the entrance to the Tsien-tang-kiang, and first heard the 
 
 :; niuttering of the Bore at XI. 20. XII. 20. — Bore passed Pagoda with a 
 loud roar. 
 
 This was probably the highest Bore of that moonj as the water 
 rose to 19 feet 6 inches above low water ordinary springs, and did , 
 not attain that level on the succeeding days or nights. The moon 
 being obscured no proper estimation could be made, by eye, of its 
 height, nor could any very accurate description be given of its 
 appearance. Natives stated the next morning that it was not a high 
 Bore ; but as a boat 7 to 8 feet above its foot obtained a sounding-, 
 of 9 feet 15 minutes after it had passed, there is reason to suppose 
 that the crest of the cascade could not have been less than 10 to 11 
 feet in height. 
 
 The sea in the estuary and river was calm. Light north-westerly 
 wind with occasional fine rain. It was high water about III. 15. At 
 III. the current was running out strong along the south bank. 
 
 21 September Qn 21st September about IX. 45 a.m., an overfall was seen by 
 Day Bore. •' 
 
 Lieutenant Balfour approaching the ship from a distance of 4 to 
 
 5 miles in the ofBug to the north-east. 
 
 It reached the ship at X.15, the waves being sufficiently high when 
 breaking against the broadside to throw water into the mizen chains, 
 
19 
 
 and spray on to the poop, and then disappeared to the westward past 
 Rambler island. At X. the water commenced to rise rapidly at 
 the island from 9 feet i inches below mean level to 4 feet 7 inches 
 above mean level at XI. clock. 
 
 From a. boat beached at high water on the south bank of the 
 entrance of the Tsien-tang-kiang, the Bore was seen approaching- 
 along the sea wall between Haining and Chi-san at XI. 24. It had 
 this appearance : — 
 
 Shortly after it was first seen, the white light on the sea wall shot 
 suddenly out to the right to nearly twice its length ; the left extreme 
 always remaining the highest. No doubt this elongation was the 
 junction of the south-east branch of the flood. Weather calm. A 
 good deal of mirage. The appearance, on a closer approach, was 
 that of a long crested wave, breaking in places, in others only about 
 to break, the top of the front of the flood curving towards us and 
 drawing back — hurried on by the speed of the Bore. 
 
 XII. 47. — Bore passed Pagoda. Front part a white cascade of 
 foaming water. The south side of the Bore consisted of a long line 
 of breakers and wall of water, tapering from the front to the smooth 
 following water half a mile behind, the breakers discharging out- 
 wards towards the south bank of the river. There was broken water 
 on top of the bore for a long distance behind the crest, in which no 
 whale boat could have lived ; and conspicuous above the disturbed 
 water a second roller or miniature Bore rose up occasionally, and 
 after moving onwards with the rest for a time, would leap up as if 
 struck by some unseen force, and disappear in a cloud of spray. 
 Height of Bore 9 feet ; but the broken water behind it could not 
 have been less than 13 or 14 feet above the level of the river in front 
 of the Bore. The Chinese standing by said this was not a high Bore, 
 the weather being calm. 
 
 Nine junks came up behind with sail set, but regardless of wind, 
 of which, indeed, there was none, and entered the river at a great 
 speed. 
 
 A feature of this Bore worth noticing was the deliberation of the 
 " S.O. 10833. B 2 
 
20 
 
 21 September 
 Kiffht Bore. 
 
 22 September 
 Day Bore. 
 
 curved side in breaking. This is only seen at the mouth of the river, 
 from the south bank. All the front and over to the north shore' is a 
 continuous cascade. 
 
 It is the outer discharge on to the very gradual sand slope which' 
 shows as deliberate breakers, and in any sense as a " wall." It looked, 
 at times, as if the great speed checked the curve just as it was about 
 to make its arch over on to the sand. 
 
 At I. 38 water had risen 15 feet (approx.). High water between 
 III. and III. 30. The stream was then making out strong along the 
 south bank. 
 
 The water rose at Eambler island from 10 feet 7 inches below mean 
 level at X. p.m. to 4 feet 9 inches above mean level at XI. 30. 
 Boats beached on the south bank 3 miles west of Haining. 
 XII. 20. — Heard the Bore approaching. 
 XII. 52.-^Bore passed Pagoda. 
 
 I. 5. — Bore passed the boats too far oflE to make any observation of 
 its height or appearance. 
 
 It was high water about III. 30 a.m., and the stream was then 
 running out along the south bank. 
 
 At XI. a.m on 22nd September overfalls surrounded the Rambler. 
 The water rose rapidly at the island from 11 feet 8 inches below 
 mean level at X, to 3 feet above mean level at XL 30. The Bore 
 was sighted by an observer standing 5 feet above high water springs, 
 at XII. 55, and the murmur was heard about the same time. 
 
 1. 10 p.m — Bore passed Pagoda. 
 
 I. 22. — It, passed theodolite of observer. Appearance thus : — 
 
 The speed was ascertained to be '12"7 knots an hour, and height 
 10 to 11 feet. 
 
 No second wave was seen on this or on any other day. 
 
 As on the 21st, the south side of the Bore formed a line of breakers^ 
 and water attempting to break, tapering in height from the crest of the 
 cascade in front to the smooth shining flood following. Disturbance 
 on the back of the Bore ; but not so marked as on the 21st. The 
 
21 
 river filled up to the level of the Bore very quickly after the cascade 
 
 High water at IV. p.m., and stream soon began to set out. 
 
 On the south bank, stream setting out at II, 45. 
 
 The officers in the ships' boats were not in a position to make any 22 September 
 observations of this Bore. ^*^^* ^°™ 
 
 At XI. p.m overfalls surrounded the Rambler. The water rose 
 on the pole at Eambler island from 9 feet 4 inches below mean level 
 at X. 30 to 5 feet 11 inches above mean level at midnight. 
 
 At I. 20 a.m. (approx.) Bore passed Pagoda.' Height 8 to 10 feet. 
 
 It was observed at Haining that at VIII. 20 p.m., the water had 
 fallen to 5 feet above its lowest, having dropped 13 feet 4 inches in. 
 
 four hours. i 
 
 i 
 
 The river was at its lowest immediately before the Bore arrived, i 
 
 and the stream was running out. There was only one wave, its front 
 boiling and curling over itself. At II. a.m. the water had risen 
 15 feet. 
 
 On the 23rd September there was a rapid rise of water at Rambler 23 September 
 island from 11 feet 10 inches below mean level at X. 30 to 5 feet ^^^ ^°'''- 
 9 inches above mean level at XII. 30. The Bore passed the ferry at 
 the city of Hang-chau, 52 miles distant from Rambler island, 
 at IV. p.m. (approx.). Doctor Bassett-Smith, who watched it, states , 
 
 that the distance he was from the other side of the river was too 
 great to enable him to form a correct estimate of its height ; but the \ 
 
 larger junks appeared to ride over it ; and judging by the after rise 
 of water, the crest of the cascade could not have exceeded 4 to 5 feet. , 
 
 Abreast the city, the deep channel is oflE the south bank of the 
 Tsien-tang, and consequently an observer on the north bank, from i 
 
 which the slope is gradual, would have the same view of " lagging " 
 which we had from the south bank of the mouth of the river on the I 
 
 21st and 22nd. Dr. Bassett-Smith informs me that he first saw the ! 
 
 Bore about III. 30 coming up the river as a straight line of foam. 
 As the highest part progressed along the south bank, the flood j 
 
 discharged itself towards him in a very long line of breakers, tapering I 
 
 from the crest to the smooth water in the rear where the river was 
 becoming satisfied. A jimk was seen sailing up to the vanishing end | 
 
 of these breakers. When close to she lowered her sail and rode i 
 
 gently over, proceeding on her course down the river. A quarter of ' 
 
 an hour after the front of the Bore had passed up, he felt the effect ' 
 
22 
 
 of the discharge of the breakers on the north shore in the form of 
 chow water. Between the time the front of the Bore passed and the 
 arrival of this chow water the water rose quietly 1^ feet. With the 
 chow, it rose 2 feet more ; and during the succeeding hour it only 
 rose one foot. The centre range of tide (3 days after full moon) was 
 probably not more than 5 to 6 feet. 
 
 It was examination time at Hang-chau ; and thousands of students 
 and others flocked- down to the water's edge, to witness the pheno- 
 menon, 
 
 NEW MOON. 
 
 Observer on the sea wall abreast Bhota Pagoda, Haining. Day 
 calm. 
 
 X. 44. — Bore was seen approaching from a direction between Chi- 
 san and the sea wall. 
 
 XI. 2. — A second roller formed behind the first line of breakers^ 
 prdbably due to the effect of the rebound from the sea wall. 
 
 XI. 10. — ^As the flood narrowed in width to enter the mouth of 
 the river, sea very confused ; picturesque lines of corkscrew breakers 
 forming and exhausting themselves against the south bank. 
 
 XI. 16. — Bore passed . Pagoda as one straight line of continuous 
 cascade 5 to 6 feet high, washing the top of the piles confining junk 
 shelter. The line was as straight as infantry on the march for 
 9 cables. If not for the speed at which it was travelling, I think a 
 well-found launch might have ridden" over this Bore. No second 
 wave. 
 
 XI. 29.— Water 9 feet. 
 
 XII. 28.— Water 14 feet. 
 
 I. 53 p.m. — High water, 15 feet above the lowest of the day. Up 
 to the time the Bore passed, the stream was running out in the deep 
 channel of the river. 
 
 Observer, first, on highest gallery of Pagoda, 103 feet above low 
 water. 
 
 X. 56. — Bore in sight through the telescope of a Troughton and 
 Simms' 6 -inch theodolite, coming towards the river along the sea 
 wall. Could distinguish crest curling and breaking in places, in some 
 parts a coinpact wall. Descended Pagoda and took up position at 
 level of river. Water at its lowest. 
 
 XI. 32. — Bore in sight. Height of eye above river 5^ feet. 
 
 XL 50;- Bore passed the Pagodai Height over deep channel of 
 river 8 feet. Line of cascade nearly straight across and continuou* 
 
23 
 
 XI. 58.— "Water had risen 10 feet. 
 
 I. 43.— Water 16feet* 
 
 II. 50.— High water, 16^ feet. 
 
 The water remained at its lowest, and the stream was running out 
 in the deep channel up to the time the Bore arrived. "When about 
 2 miles east of the Pagoda, the flood stream struck the sea wall with 
 great violence, and rebounded. There was a severe tide rippling on 
 the back of the Bore when it passed Pagoda, but no second roller. 
 
 Mr. George Moule had stationed himself, at my request, on the sea 
 wall about 5 miles from Hang-chau, and 15 from Haining. The 
 Bore passed him at I. p.m., and the height was 5 feet. 
 
 Observer sitting on the piles which confine the junk shelter under 5 October 
 the Pagoda. Night fine and calm. Night Bore 
 
 X. 37. — Heard the muttering of the Bore. I have no doubt 1 could 
 have heard it before, had it notbeen for the continuous noisy rippling 
 of the outgoing stream in the deep channel. At this time the flood 
 must have been between 12 and 16 miles distant. X. 45. — Noise very 
 distinct. 
 
 XI. 28,-^unk men on top of sea wall stated that they could see 
 the Bore. 
 
 XI. 58. — Bore passed Pagoda with a loud roar. First rush 
 level with bottom of sea wall, inner edge of platform. Height in 
 centre 9 feet. 
 
 XII. 1. — Junks afloat and surging against wall. 
 
 XII. 9. — "Water had risen to 13 feet. Highest during the night 
 18 feet 
 
 As far as could be made out in the darkness, the line of cascade 
 was straight across to opposite sands. Water at its lowest when the 
 Bore arrived. 
 
 Natives said that, considering the calm weather, this was a high 
 Bore. 
 
 Observer on highest gallery of Pagoda. Weather fine, sea calm. « October 
 Light airs from south. 
 
 XI. 30. — Sighted Bore, coming as usual, straight from inside Chi- 
 san cape, along the sea wall, the highest part being near the sea wall. 
 
 N.B. — The dry sand flats visible from the Pagoda, 5 to 10 miles 
 distant in line with Chi-san, no doubt prevent the Bore being seen 
 sponer, i ■ 
 
■24 
 
 XI. 57. — A second Bore, not quite so high, was observed approaching 
 from the south-east, with a second roller coming up behind it. The 
 latter, on getting nearer subsided and the second Bore presented a 
 uniform appearance. 
 
 Converging towards each other, the right extreme of the line of 
 "breakers extending southward from the sea wall (the main Bore);;and . 
 the left extreme of the second Bore met at XII. 8 with a splash' and 
 overlapping roller. 
 
 The combined line of rollers now extended from the sea wall 
 to the sand fiats which stretch into the estuary from the south/ bank 
 of the river, a distance of two miles, subtending an angle of 39°. 
 Noise distinct. 
 
 XII. 15. — Flood stream hit the sea wall about 2 miles east of 
 Pagoda, and rebounded with great violence, raising a series of 
 
 , breakers behind but twice as high again as the front of the Bore. 
 These waves and breakers ran for some distance in a southerly 
 direction, the sea of the estuary becoming violently agitated for two 
 miles, and after a time settling down to the mean height of the top 
 of the advancing flood. As the Bore contracted in width to conform 
 to the mouth of the river, the rippling on its back was very severe. 
 The highest part was in. the middle, where the opposing rebounds 
 from the sides, met. The water was at its lowest and the stream 
 in the river was running out until the last minute. 
 
 XII. 23. — The Bore, now marshalled into a fairly straight line 
 of cascade, entirely breaking in a steep slope of bubbling foam, 
 passed the Pagoda with the usual loud noise. 
 
 fHfG/f£SrAND STEEPEST 
 
 Thp linp nf tbp /•nsf'arlp wna ^ { PART- PROBABUf OVER - 
 
 ine ime ot tiie cascade was-^ XoEEPEST WATER AND 
 somewhat in this shape. \OPPOSED BY STRONGEST 
 
 \PORnON OF RIVER 
 \SrREAM. 
 
 ^ 
 
 fiAGODA 
 
 The jnnks moved at once. Height in centre, over the deep 
 
25 
 
 channel 9 feet. A severe rippling was travelling on the back of the 
 Bore, but no second roller. 
 
 XII. 29. — Rippling had passed, having extended behind the 
 cascade for about one mile. Eleven junks came up behind the Bore 
 and swept into the river with the after rush. 
 
 XII. 40.— Water risen to 14 feet. 
 
 III. 19. — High water 19 feet. Stream commenced- to set out of 
 the river. 
 
 Mr. George Moule observed this Bore from the same place on the 
 
 sea wall as on 5th October. It passed him at 1 hour 27 minutes. 
 
 Height 8 feet. Distance from Pagoda 14 to 15 miles. 
 
 Observer on the sea wall near Bhota Pagoda. Weather rainy with 6 October 
 J X ot:. ■ J NigHtBore. 
 
 moderate S.E. wind. 
 
 XI. 38. — Heard the muttering of the Bore. The splash of. the 
 waves below prevented its being heard before. 
 
 XI. 59. — Noise distinct. 
 
 XII. 3. — Occasionally saw the glint of the foam. 
 
 XII. 35. — Bore passed Pagoda with a loud roar. Height 10 feet. 
 It appeared to be nearly a straight line across the river. 
 
 XII. 42. — ^Water had risen to 13 feet. The water rose during the night 
 to 19^ feet above low water ordinary springs — 4 feet from the top of 
 the sea wall abreast the Pagoda. 
 
 Observer on sea wall near Bhota Pagoda, Haining. Wind from ^ October 
 eastward, force 4 to 5, with rain and squally appearance to seaward. ^*y ^*"'®- 
 
 XII. 36. — Heard the Bore. Too much rain to see far. 
 
 XII. 40. — Noise distinct though there was talking going on around 
 and soxmd from the lapping of waves on the sand below. 
 
 XII. 48. — Saw the Bore. When between one and two miles east of 
 the Pagoda, the flood stream charged the sea wall and rebounded with 
 great violence, raising an irregular wall of water behind, but about 
 tvdce as high again as the cascade in front of the Bore. Th4 top of 
 this mass must have been nearly, if not quite, as high as the level of 
 my eye, which was 28 feet above the level of the river at the time. 
 Nothing could be seen beyond it, and at first I took it to be a part of 
 the distant land. At a cautious calculation, I estimate it to have been, 
 for a period of three or four minutes, 20 feet above the level of the 
 river at the same spot immediately before the Bore arrived. Before 
 reaching the entrance of the river it broke and joined the middle of 
 the top of the flood. 
 
26 
 
 XII. 57.— The Bore passed with a loud roar, as one continuous cascade 
 from bank to bank, and instantly floated- the junks on the shelter.' 
 Over the channel, the crest of the cascade was 10 to 11 feet high ; but 
 there was many waves carried along in the rip on its back which were 
 3 or 4 feet higher. For several minutes after it had passed, the bosom, 
 of the flood was violently convulsed, heaving to and fro, from one bank 
 to the other like the surface of the ocean after it has closed over a 
 sinking vessel, now and then leaving a depression in the centre and 
 washiag up to within 6 feet of the top of the sea wall. 
 
 I. 7. — Mean level of water at ihe wall 13 feet above low water 
 ordinary springs and the level of the river before the Bore arrived. 
 
 The water was at its lowest, and the stream was running out to the 
 last moment. 
 
 That portion of the cascade which was over the channel of the river 
 was slightly retarded, and steeper than the rest of the line. The 
 natives said this was a good Bore and attributed its violence to the 
 easterly wind in the estuary. 
 
 Judging by the replies I received from the natives to questions at 
 various times, it would appear that none of the Bores we saw were 
 in their estimation, as high as they often are at spring tides. 
 . They expect highest tides and highest Bores in the winter. This 
 is at Haining where a high or low Bore has a practical bearing upon 
 their daily life. At Hang-chau there is a story that the highest Bore 
 is always on the 18th day of the 8th Moon, i.e., 3 days after the Full 
 Moon of September ; but it certainly was not so this year, and I cannot 
 see why it should be any year except when Full Moon happens to cor- 
 respond with Perigee (which it did nearly, 1887). 
 , The junk men say that the water has been known to rise within %. 
 feet of the top of the sea wall, and to fall 2 feet lower than the lowest 
 I saw. This would make the range of exceptional spring tides 23 feet. 
 
 With reference to our Full Moon observations, it should be remarked 
 that the range of that spring tide at West Volcano island was a foot 
 less than it has, been, and two feet less than what may be expected 
 under extraordinary conditions ; while the water marks on the rocks 
 around Rambler island and opposite coast indicated a possible tide 17 
 feet above our computed mean level, and 5 feet above the spring high 
 water which we recorded. The New Moon Bores were not assisted^ 
 by any continuous easterly wind in the gulf, though a wind sprung 
 up during the last 24 hours of my stay and no doubt made the 
 Night Bore of the 6th October and the Day Bore of 7th both higher 
 and earlier than they otherwise would have been. I believe the 
 
27 
 
 phenomenon has been observed under normal conditions, possibly 
 under rather less favourable circumstances than usual. 
 
 Undoubtedly there are occasions \?hen the crest of the cascade 
 attains a height of 15 feet and continues at that height for a distance 
 of 16 miles. A typhoon or a long continuance of easterly wind 
 blowing into the gulf would occasion this. 
 
 I will now compare the times of the passage of the Bore with that 
 of the transit of the moon succeeding that to which the origin of the 
 phenomenon is due. 
 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Mean Time 
 
 Time of 
 
 
 Interval be- 
 tween Bore' 
 
 Date. 
 
 or 
 
 Bore passed 
 Pagoda, 
 Haining. 
 
 Moon's 
 
 n.s£ 
 
 passing and 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 Transit. 
 
 Bore 
 
 befo 
 
 af 
 
 Transit of 
 Moon. 
 
 
 
 H. M. 
 
 H. M. 
 
 
 H. M. 
 
 O 21st September 
 
 A.M. 
 
 20 
 
 19 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 47 
 
 42 
 
 A 
 
 5 
 
 22nd 
 
 A.M. 
 
 52 
 
 I. 3 
 
 B 
 
 11 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 I. 9 
 
 I. 24 
 
 B 
 
 15 
 
 • 4th October 
 
 A.M. 
 
 XI. 16 
 
 X. 41 
 
 A 
 
 35 
 
 5th „ 
 
 A.M. 
 
 XI. 50 
 
 XI. 33 
 
 A 
 
 17 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 XI. 58 
 
 XI. 59 
 
 B 
 
 1 
 
 6th „ 
 
 P.M. 
 
 23 
 
 26 
 
 B 
 
 3 
 
 7th „ 
 
 A.M. 
 
 35 
 
 52 
 
 B 
 
 17 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 57 ■ 
 
 I. 20 
 
 B 
 
 23 ■ 
 
 It appears from this that the Bore originated by the sudden rise of 
 water in the estuary Allowing the inferior transit of the Full Moon 
 and the superior transit of the New Moon, passes Bhota Pagoda, 
 Haining, precisely at the minute of the superior transit of the Full 
 Moon and the inferior ' transit of the New Moon ; that, speaking 
 generally, it rnay be said that the Bore passes Haining as the moon 
 crosses the meridian, and that on very calm days (such as 
 4th October) it is behind time, while in strong on-shore winds it 
 comes in early. . , , 
 
 III. The name given by the Chinese to the Bore is simply 
 " Chau "^ — the tide. ' Sometimes they speak of it at Haining as 
 " Chau dau," the " Great Tide." I have asked several of them, and 
 they can give no reasonable explanation of the flood coming in this 
 particular manner, but all emphatically declare it to be a bad 
 Fung-shui. It is not surprising that they should make such a phe- 
 nomenon the object of superstition and thov theme of romancie, 
 devoted as they are to. "fung-shui" — or the occult influence of air 
 and water. At Haining the story believed in by the junk men is 
 
28 
 
 this :— Many hundred years ago there was a certain general, who 
 had obtained many victories over the enemies of the Emperor, and 
 who, being constantly successful, and deservedly popular among his 
 countrymen, excited the jealousy of hi§ sovereign, who had for some 
 time observed, with secret wrath, his growing influence. The 
 Emperor, accordingly, caused him to be assassinated and thrown 
 into the Tsien-tp,ng, when his spirit conceived the idea of revenging 
 itself by bringing the tide in from the ocean in such force as to 
 overwhelm the city of Hang-chau, then the magnificent capital of 
 the empire. As my interpreter, who has been for some years in 
 America, put it — " his sowl felt a sort of ugly like, arter the many, 
 battles he had got for the Emperor." The spirit so far succeeded as 
 to flood a large portion of the country, when the Emperor, becoming 
 alarmed at the distress and loss of property occasioned, endeavoured 
 to enter into a sort of compact with it by burning paper and ofEeriag 
 food upon the sea wall. This, however, did not have the desired 
 effect, as the high tide came in as before, and it was at last de- 
 termined to erect a Pagoda at the spot where the worst breach in the 
 embankment had been made. Hence the origin of the Bhota 
 Pagoda. A Pagoda induces a good f ung-shui. After it was built, the 
 flood tide, though it still continued to come in the shape of a Bore, 
 did not flood the country as before.* 
 
 Archdeacon Moule informs me that the natives of Hang-chau hold 
 the Bore in the greatest awe, and are to be found at certain seasons 
 "worshipping it as the arbiter of their destinjfe During the Taeping 
 rebellion when the city was taken and retaken several times, and 
 thousands of homeless fugitives were crossing the Tsien-tang daily for 
 2 years, the Bore did not come. The channels are constantly altering 
 and he believes that, ovring to some change in the bed of the river or 
 the flats in the estuary, the flood did not reach the city in this shape, 
 or at any rate the roller was comparatively harmless to what it was 
 before, or has been since that disturbed time. 
 
 The causes of the Bore appear to be three : 1. The funnel or bell- 
 shape of the Hang-chau gulf which is open to the eastward, between 
 50 and 60 miles wide at the mouth, and only 10 miles broad at the 
 part where navigation ends, 45 miles to westward, the latter end being 
 of much less general depth of water than across the entrance. 
 2. The large area of sand flats at the head of the estuary. 3. The 
 outgoing stream from the Tsien-tang-kiang. 
 
 * It is ratter remarkable that Marco Polo, -who knew Hang-ohau well 600 years 
 ago, and describes its wonders, makes no mention of the Bore. — W.J.L.W. 
 
29 
 
 The Chnsan archipelago is remarkable for its swift tidal streams 
 which attain a velocity in. certain channels of 8 knots at sl)ring tide. 
 Last May it was remarked that the time of high water among the 
 Volcano islands was very different to that at Changtau harbour, 
 although the distance was small ; and it was arranged to erect the tide 
 pole at West Volcano island, in any case necessary for the reduction, 
 of soundings in the western half of our survey, before the Changtau 
 pole was taken down ; and to carry out simultaneous observations of 
 the level of the water about the change of the moon early in 
 September . The result showed that the difference of vulgar establish- 
 ment between these two stations, only 20 miles apart,, was as much 
 as 2 hours ; and that at certain times of tides fluctuating between the 
 3rd and 4th hours of the flood and between the 4th and 6th hours of 
 the ebb at Changtau harbour there was a considerable difference of 
 level in the water, amounting at spring range to over 5 feet. 
 
 The comparisons between the levels at various times are shown in 
 in Appendix B. On seeing these, it no longer causes any wonder 
 that the tidal stream between the two stations should get up a 
 velocity of 5 knots and in narrow straits 7 to 8 knots an hour ; and 
 it is harmonious with the register that the greatest speed should occur, 
 as the current log, kept on board, shows is the case, when it is about 
 high or low water at Changtau, that is, when the difference of level 
 is neither greatest or least, but half way between, or when the sea is 
 in the middle of its struggle to regain equilibrium and has succeeded 
 in reducing the difference of level between the two stations to one 
 half the maximum of that tide. 
 
 On the 8th September the tide pole at Changtau was embarked, 
 and on the 20th it was erected at Rambler island. The distance 
 between Rambler island and West Volcano is 45 miles, and the 
 difference of vulgar establishment only one hour ; but, whereas at 
 the latter station the range of tide is 12 feet at springs, at the former it 
 • is, owing to the configuration and bed of the Hang-chau gulf — 25 feet, 
 and under certain conditions of wind and positions of the moon, as 
 much as 34 feet. Appendix C. shows the comparispn between the 
 level of the water at Rambler island and West Volcano island for 
 every half hour from noon 20th September to midnight 22nd. 
 
 It became of importance to institute a similar conaparison between 
 Rambler island and the Tsien-tang-kiang. Unfortunately this was 
 not practicable. Tide poles were taken away for the purpose, but 
 the difficulty of sheltering the boats, which I have elsewhere 
 
30 
 
 explained demanded the premature return of my party. Times of 
 high and low water have, however, been obtained ; also the range of 
 spring tide ; and a knowledge has been gained of the times of mean 
 sea level and no tide . These are entered in Appendix C. 
 
 In computing differences of level between two stations, the mean sea 
 level has been calculated for identical epochs by the method indicated 
 in your General Instructions, combining three groups of lunar and 
 solar days, and eliminating the lunar and solar semi-diurnal and 
 diurnal inequalities. 
 
 So far as Rambler island is concerned, this method does not give a 
 result consistent with the actual mean between highest and lowest 
 tides, but a slightly higher mean level. The purely nndulatory 
 character of the attraction of the sun and moon has begun to give 
 place to a transmission of particles of water . On inspection of the 
 tables you will notice that about an hour before it is high water at 
 Changtau, when the sea is between one and two feet above mean level 
 at West Volcano island, the water goes up at Rambler island from 
 fl feet below mean level to 2 feet above in one hour, bringing the 
 difference of level between the two stations from 10 feet "West Volcano 
 highest to 2 feet West Volcano, also highest : the rise at Rambler 
 island being five times as much as that at West Volcano island, or just 
 in that proportion which the breadth of the estuary at the former 
 place bears to the width of the mouth where West Volcano island is 
 situated. Here is a tremendous force. Water banking up into the 
 small end of a funnel, running down hill, and having in front a vast 
 field of sand, the greater portion of which is dry when this force ig 
 set in motion., and indeed for some minutes afterwards. Presently the 
 water begins to set over the flats slowly, but no doubt with more 
 velocity and tumult through the very narrow channels kept open by 
 the Tsien-tang-kiang. When 2 feet of the sand is covered, the flood 
 stream runs with great impetuosity. Friction caused by the ground, 
 and by the swift outgoing streams of the river, impedes its foot : an 
 •overfall is formed, iirst no doubt, and always higher, in the channels. 
 By and bye, a greater volume overlays the first of the flood, and 
 having less to contend against, runs forward and falls in front also to 
 be checked by the river stream ; and so on, until in half-an-hour the 
 Bore is formed, and as more water comes up behind, it gathers in 
 height and has sufficient force to proceed on its course towards the 
 river. 
 
 It cannot take long to form, for the interval between the beginning 
 
31 
 
 •of the quick rise at Rambler island and the time of the Bore passing 
 Haining is 2^ hours, and it has to travel 29 miles. 
 
 The difiEerence of level between the entrance of the river and 
 Rambler island at the time the two branches of the Bore effect a 
 junction and it commences to contract in width, is 19 feet ; and it is 
 probably travelling faster at that time than at any previous period. 
 
 The accompanying diagram will help to show the birth of the Bore 
 and the power propelling it. The violence of the rush which follows 
 the cascade, and which drove our boats 3 miles from their -anchorage 
 on the night of the 20th September, is accounted for by the difiEerence 
 of level between Rambler island and Haining, which is 4 to 6 feet for 
 an hour after the Bore has passed, and decreases very slowly up to 
 the time of high water at Haining. The water at Rambler island is 
 then falling fast, and has come down to the level of that of Haining. 
 As the estuary at Rambler island is four times as broad as the river, 
 and the force of attraction does not in this case enter into the question, 
 directly the water at this station falls below that of Haining, the 
 stream must inevitably set out of the river ; and we found it did so 
 directly after high water. 
 
 The river falls very rapidly, following close upon the water at 
 Rambler island which is in the full swing of its downward coiu'se 
 when the river has only just begun. It is at mean level 2 hours 
 after high water : at the 5th hour ebb it is nearly low water ; the last 
 foot dribbles away very slowly ; and for 2 hours before the arrival of 
 the Bore the water falls only 3 or 4 inches. The stream, however, 
 of the river continues to make out fast along the channel and is 
 found opposing the Bore, which it helps to create. 
 
 At Rambler island the ebb stream was found to be strongest 
 between the 2nd and 3rd hours fall and to be practically nil after the 
 4th hour. The links of the cable were bent surging about after the 
 2nd hour. Tbe tables show that the difiEerence of level between 
 Rambler island and West Volcano island is then about half the 
 maximum, West Volcano lowest ; and that at the 4th hour, the two 
 stations are on the same level. The stream from the river still 
 comes out, but is expanding to the greater breadth of the estuary. 
 
 I will now combine Appendices ^Q'and C, noting -that it is high 
 water full and change at Changtau harbour Xh. 14m., West Volcano 
 island Oh. 19m., Rambler island Ih. 27m. Haining III. hrs. Om., and 
 Hang-chau III. hrs. Om. (approx.) The Bore passes Haining hrs. 0., 
 and the city of Hang-chau at Ih. 30m. (approx.) 
 
32 
 
 To trace the progress and inclination of the tidal waves which 
 follow Full Moon of 20th September from the ocean to the Hang- 
 chau estuary, it will be sufficiently accurate to adopt the differences 
 of level observed between West Volcano island and Changtau 
 harbour on the 6th and 7th September, as the time and height of 
 high water at "West Volcano island, were the same on both full and 
 change of the moon. 
 
 20th' Sept., 
 ..1888. 
 
 Diff. : Level 
 between 
 
 oloa- 
 
 hest 
 est. 
 
 Diff. Level 
 between 
 
 oloa- 
 
 hest 
 est. 
 
 i)iff. Level 
 between 
 
 iu 
 
 Rambler I. and 
 
 1>|>| 
 
 Ohang^-tau Har 
 
 P-.SPP 
 
 Rambler I. and 
 
 bo ® S 
 
 
 and West 
 
 1 -': 
 
 and West 
 
 l^-"^ 
 
 Ohang-tau 
 
 IS- 
 
 p.m. 
 
 Volcano I. 
 
 |ip 
 
 Volcano I. 
 
 |§° 
 
 Har. , 
 
 h. m. 
 
 ft. .in. 
 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 
 Noon. 
 
 3 10 
 
 L. 
 
 1 10 
 
 H. 
 
 5 8 
 
 L. 
 
 30 
 
 5 
 
 L. 
 
 2 5 
 
 H. 
 
 7 5 
 
 L. 
 
 I. 
 
 6 5 
 
 L. 
 
 3 2 
 
 H. 
 
 9 7 
 
 L. 
 
 1.30 
 
 7 4 
 
 L. 
 
 3 6 
 
 H. 
 
 10 10 
 
 L. 
 
 II. 
 
 8 
 
 L. 
 
 3 7 
 
 H. 
 
 11 7 
 
 L. 
 
 11.30 
 
 8 7- 
 
 L. 
 
 3 8 
 
 H. 
 
 12 3 
 
 L. 
 
 III. 
 
 8 2 
 
 L. 
 
 3 10 
 
 H. 
 
 12 
 
 L. 
 
 III. 30 
 
 4 8 
 
 L. 
 
 3 10 
 
 H. 
 
 8 6 
 
 L. 
 
 IV. 
 
 5 1 
 
 L. 
 
 3 4 
 
 H. 
 
 8 5 
 
 L. 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 4 
 
 L. 
 
 2 8 
 
 H. 
 
 6 8 
 
 L. 
 
 V. 
 
 2 
 
 L. 
 
 1 6 
 
 H. 
 
 3 6 
 
 L. 
 
 V.30 
 
 2 
 
 H. 
 
 3 
 
 L. 
 
 5 
 
 H. 
 
 VI. 
 
 1 9 
 
 H. 
 
 1 8 
 
 L. 
 
 3 5 
 
 H. 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 3 7 
 
 H. 
 
 3 1 
 
 L. 
 
 6 8 
 
 H. 
 
 VII. 
 
 5 6 
 
 H. 
 
 4 2 
 
 L. 
 
 9 8 
 
 H. 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 7 2 
 
 H. 
 
 4 , 8 
 
 L. 
 
 11 10 
 
 H. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 8 10 
 
 H. 
 
 4 11 
 
 L. 
 
 13 9 
 
 H. 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 10 3 
 
 H. 
 
 4 8 
 
 L. 
 
 14 11 
 
 H- 
 
 IX. 
 
 11 1 
 
 H. 
 
 4 1 
 
 L. 
 
 15 2 
 
 H. 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 10 4 
 
 H. 
 
 3 4 
 
 L. 
 
 13 8 
 
 H. 
 
 X. 
 
 6 10 
 
 H. 
 
 2 9 
 
 L. 
 
 9 7 
 
 H. 
 
 X. 30, 
 
 2 3 
 
 H. 
 
 1 11 
 
 L. 
 
 4 2 
 
 H. 
 
 XI. 
 
 1 5 
 
 L. 
 
 10 
 
 L. 
 
 7 
 
 H. 
 
 XT. 30 
 
 3 4 
 
 L. 
 
 3 
 
 H. 
 
 3 7 
 
 L. 
 
 Mdnght. 
 
 4 
 
 L. 
 
 21st Si 
 
 1 5 
 
 3PTBMBBR.— 7 
 
 H. 
 ■A.M. 
 
 5 5 , 
 
 L- 
 
 0. 30 
 
 4 9 
 
 L. 
 
 2 3 
 
 H. 
 
 7 
 
 L. 
 
 I. 
 
 6 1 
 
 L. 
 
 3 1 
 
 H. 
 
 9 2 
 
 L. 
 
 1.30 
 
 7 1 
 
 L. 
 
 3 4 
 
 H. 
 
 10 5 
 
 L. 
 
 II. 
 
 7 10 
 
 L. 
 
 3 4 
 
 H. 
 
 11 2 
 
 L. 
 
 11. 30 
 
 8 6 
 
 L. 
 
 3 7 
 
 H. 
 
 12 1 
 
 L. 
 
 III. 
 
 8 6, 
 
 L. 
 
 3 11 
 
 H. 
 
 12 5 
 
 L. 
 
 III. 30 
 
 6 9 
 
 L. 
 
 4 1 
 
 H. 
 
 10 10 
 
 L. 
 
 IV. 
 
 5 9 
 
 L. 
 
 3 11 
 
 H. 
 
 9 8 
 
 L. 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 4 4 
 
 L. 
 
 3 9 
 
 H. 
 
 8 1 
 
 L. 
 
33 
 
 2lBii Sept., 
 1888. 
 
 DifE. Level 
 
 ^■g^ 
 
 Diff. Level 
 
 olca- 
 hest 
 est. 
 
 Di£E. Level 
 
 8 
 
 between. 
 
 "ofS s 
 
 between 
 
 between 
 
 fjl 
 
 Bambler I. and 
 
 
 Ohang-tan Har. 
 
 
 Bambler I. and 
 
 Hour. 
 
 .West 
 
 and West 
 
 Chang-tau 
 
 Volcano I. 
 
 ^§° 
 
 Volcano I. 
 
 ■|§S 
 
 Har. 
 
 S2". 
 
 H. M. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 V. 
 
 2 11 
 
 L. 
 
 2 11 
 
 H. 
 
 5 10 
 
 L. 
 
 V. 30 
 
 1 2 
 
 L. 
 
 1 7 
 
 H. 
 
 2 9 
 
 L. 
 
 VI. 
 
 6 
 
 H. 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 L. 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 2 5 
 
 H. 
 
 1 8 
 
 L. 
 
 4 1 
 
 H. 
 
 VII. 
 
 3 9 
 
 H. 
 
 3 4 
 
 L. 
 
 7 1 
 
 H. 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 5 1 
 
 H, 
 
 4 6 
 
 L. 
 
 9 7 
 
 H. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 6 10 
 
 H. 
 
 5 
 
 L. 
 
 11 10 
 
 H. 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 8 11 
 
 H. 
 
 5 
 
 L. 
 
 13 11 
 
 H. 
 
 IX. 
 
 10 4 
 
 H. 
 
 4 8 
 
 L. 
 
 15 
 
 H. 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 11 1 
 
 H. 
 
 4 6 
 
 L. 
 
 15 7 
 
 H. 
 
 X. 
 
 10 2 
 
 H. 
 
 3 8 
 
 L. 
 
 13 10 
 
 H. 
 
 X. 30 
 
 5 1 
 
 H. 
 
 2 10 
 
 L. 
 
 7 11 
 
 H. 
 
 XI. 
 
 3 
 
 H. 
 
 1 7 
 
 L. 
 
 1 10 
 
 H. 
 
 XL 30 
 
 1 5 
 
 L. 
 
 6 
 
 H. 
 
 11 
 
 L. 
 
 Noon. 
 
 3 
 
 L. 
 
 5 
 
 H. 
 
 4 1 
 
 L. 
 
 0. 30 
 
 4 6 
 
 L. 
 
 1 7 
 
 H. 
 
 6 1 
 
 L. 
 
 I. 
 
 5 4 
 
 L. 
 
 2 5 
 
 H. 
 
 7 9 
 
 L. 
 
 1.30 
 
 6 2 
 
 L. 
 
 3 2 
 
 H. 
 
 9 4 
 
 L. 
 
 11. 
 
 7 4 
 
 L. 
 
 3 4 
 
 H. 
 
 10 8 
 
 L. 
 
 11.30 
 
 8 2 
 
 L. 
 
 3 7 
 
 H. 
 
 11 9 
 
 L. 
 
 III. 
 
 8 7 
 
 L. 
 
 3 10 
 
 H. 
 
 12 5 
 
 L. 
 
 This table shows that two hours before high water at Changtau, 
 when the apex of the tidal wave is over the deep water of the ocean, 
 there is a difference of level of 15 feet between the water at 
 Changtau harbour and Rambler island. There is no indication of 
 remarkable pressure at West Volcano island, which is at the mouth 
 of the Hang-chau gulf; but an hour later, when the apex of the 
 wave is nearing the Chusan archipelago, there is great pressure on 
 the water in the Hang-chau estuary and the difference of level of 
 the water between Changtau and Rambler island reduces 13. feet 
 in one hour and a half. Judging by the analagous case of Changtau 
 and West Volcano, the strongest flood stream would be when this 
 difference is reduced by one half, that is to say, when the water 
 is in its full swing of effort to regain equilibrium. It is then 
 high water at Changtau, and the Bore forms west of Rambler island. 
 
 The Bore cannot be accurately described as a " wave." It is in no 
 
 sense an undulation ; nor is there any depression after it has passed. 
 
 The same particles of water which rise with such a significant jump 
 
 in the neighbourhood of Rambler island, are precipitated over, the 
 
 S.O. 10833. G 
 
34 
 
 vast bar of sand into the Tsien-tang. It is in this the danger lies. 
 In its effort to find, equilibrium the flood is travelling at a rate of 
 12 to 13 miles an hour, and overcomes everything in its progress.; 
 A -waj^e, or two- waves, of, 6 to 10 feet in height may be safely 
 encountered by a craift having good anchors and cables. Not so the 
 Bore, Supposing one of H.M. gunboats to be anchored ofiE Haining 
 with stern anchor to prevent swinging to the out-going stream, and 
 an anchor and whole cable out on each bow, I think it is doubtful if 
 she would not founder in a good spring tide Bore such as is described 
 by the natives as happening occasionally in the rwinter months. 
 
 So far from there being any depression behind the cascade, oiir 
 observations show that it is always succeeded by a rise of 3 or 4 feet 
 of water. If the estuary terminated at Ramblfer island, or the place 
 marked as Canpu, we should probably See a rise of 50 or 60 feet as 
 in the Bay of Fundy ; but the outlet beiiag thei?e, the pent up waters 
 discharge themselves through it, and as soon as the level at their 
 source falls below them, they fall also. If asked for a brief definition 
 of the Bore, I would say — Two thirds of the flood range of the 
 day arrives in the river, at any given spot, in a quarter of an hour ; 
 and in such a form as to show the observer a well defined body of 
 water advancing at a high speed many feet above the level of the 
 river where he is situated. 
 
 The front or crest of this flood is in the shape of a bubbling 
 cascade of foam, about as high as the mean river level, pounding, 
 itself and the sea in front of it in precisely the same manner as the 
 first onset of the ordinary flood tide on a stretch of sand. 
 
 Anyone who has witnessed the coming in of the flood on the flats 
 at "Weston-super-mare, for instance, has seen a Bore on a minature 
 scale. On a very calm day, standing on the sea wall, I found it 
 ditecult — if the Bore was small — to divest my mind of the idea, that 
 I was looking at the same sort of thing. The placid river became 
 sand in imagination and the regular line of foam nothing but a 
 bigger and noisier ripple. In boisterous weather the scene is 
 different. There is the same bubbling cascade, but the line is not 
 so regular. Squalls in the estuary appear to be whipping up the 
 flood ; the waves in the river destroy the illusion of sand, the fierce 
 rebound from the sea wall, the hurtling ripple on the back of the 
 Bore with its waves tossed hither and thither and throwing up 
 clouds of spray ; the height and noise remind the spectator that he 
 isiooking upon one of the violent forces of nature. 
 
From the .shallQW side of the river, thatyis the south bank at 
 Haining and the north bank at the city, the pounding cascade does 
 not strike the attention so much as the breakers along the side of the 
 Bore, -which lags on account of the ^adual slope of the sand. 
 
 It is improbable that the height of the cascade ever exceeds 15 or 
 16 feet .as the first rush of the flood depends upon the quick rise in 
 the neighbourhood of Rambler island ; and there is no reason to 
 suppose that, even in a typhoon, this ever exceeds by 6 feet what 
 was recorded by the Rambler's party. 
 
 The Bishop of Mid-China estimated 15 feet as the height of one 
 Bore which he saw from the sea wall 5 miles east of Hang-chau. 
 Doctor Main measured down the wall at the same spot, on one 
 occasion, before the Bore arrived, and after it had passed ; and made 
 the difference 12 feet.* The effect of- a rebound from the sea wall 
 such as happens daily east of Haining, is to raise water from 5 to 
 
 15 f6et above the Bore, making a total of 20 to 30 feet under very 
 exceptional circumstances ; l)Ut only for a few minutes. 
 
 The locality where the flood ceases to form mere ripplings and to 
 create a Bore, no doubt varies very much with the wind at the mouth 
 of the gulf, the age of the moon, and the strength of the outgoing 
 stream of the river. On rare occasions it is something more than a 
 mere overfall off Chapu 40 miles from Haining ; but as a rule, an 
 ordinary spring-tide 3ore would form a few miles east of Chi-san, 12 to 
 
 16 miles from Haining. I have heard the muttering I. h. 20m. before 
 the Bore arrived, and at that time it could not be less than 12 miles 
 distant. It is improbable that I heard it immediately it was formed, 
 because I had very little experience of the sound, and there was a 
 certain amount of noise around, caused by the lapping of 1ihe waves 
 and rippling of the river stream. 
 
 The position where the Bore vanishes, and nothing remains but ^^ 
 swift rush, is also variable. 
 
 The Bishop experienced the Bore on the 29th of May this year, at 
 a place which is about 40 miles from Haining. As a rule, I believe, 
 it expires just above the city, at springs. Its usual life, then, is 3 to 
 4 hours, during which- time it travels 34 to 40 miles; but under 
 certain rare combinations of wind, tide, and strong outgoing stream., 
 
 * The 30 feet estimate of Dr. MacGowan, in Ms paper read before the China 
 Branch of the Boyal Asiatic Society, is a very erroneous one ; and this at the city 
 where the range is 6 feet 1 No combination of wind and tide couldprodilcea Bore 
 off the city, over 8 feet high. 
 
 S.O. 10833. C 2 
 
36 
 
 it may have a life of 7 or 8 hours, and travel as much as 60 to 
 90 miles. 
 
 The sound in the distance is peculiar, and no exactly like any 
 other, it most nearly resembles the leaden noise of breakers on a 
 distant coral reef, being a continuous muttering, broken only by an 
 occasional dull thud, indicating some new addition to the flood,- or 
 some exceptionally heavy breaker. As it approaches, the sound 
 increases very gradually until it passes with a roar, but little inferior 
 to the rapids below Niagara. 
 
 To sum up. — From observations made at full and change of the 
 moon, and information received from reliable witnesses, I feel 
 justified i'n submitting to you the following general conclusions. 
 
 At full, and change of the moon the Bore of the Tsien-tang-kiang 
 originates between X. h. and X. h. 30 m. in the neighbourhood of -the 
 meridian of Chi-san, a conspicuous hill 12 miles E. by S. ^ S. from 
 Haining. On a still night, it can be heard from Haining within half 
 an-hour aftei; it is formed. It is divided into two branches, one of 
 which keeps along the shore, touching the sea wall with its north 
 extreme, and the sands with its south extreme ; this is the main 
 Bore, and the highest. 
 
 The other appears in view at Haining from a south-easterly 
 direction, touching sand on both sides. When 4 miles, from Hain- 
 ing, the branches join, the right extreme of the first with the left 
 extreme of the second, making, a continuous white line 2 miles in 
 length. Shortly afterwards, the Bore commences to contract in 
 width, increase in speed, and rise in height,, conforming to the mouth 
 of the river. When 2 miles from Haining, the flood stream (probably 
 that from the south-east which runs through the other) charges into 
 the sea wall. There is no particular effect at the wall itself ; but a 
 violent rebound, causing a tumultuous rising of the waters in Waves 
 several hundred yards behind, but twice as high again as the front of 
 the Bore. These waves are in existence for many minutes, travelling 
 in a southerly or south-westerly direction ; and, after a time, subside 
 on to the back of the Bore. Precisely as the moon crosses the me- 
 ridian, the Bore passes Haining, where it is nearly a straight line 
 across the river, 9 cables wide, 8 to 11 feet high, and travelling be- 
 tween 12 and 13 knots an hour ; its front being a uniform sloping 
 cascade of bubbling foam, falling forward and pounding on itself 
 and on the river before it at an angle of between 40° and 70°. The 
 highest and steepest part is over the deep channel of the river. 
 
37 
 
 The north edge of the Bore swells up to the sea wall as it goes 
 . along, but the south side, meeting as it does a very gradual incline of 
 sand which only rises 19 fe6t in 1-4 miles, trails away in a tapering 
 wall of very deliberate breakers, which end half a mile astern (where 
 the Bore passed 3 or 4 minutes previously). The river fills up to 
 the level of the Bore soon after it passes, but not evenly. The 
 height, speed and regular appearance of the front are maintained for 
 15 miles above Haining ; after which the Bore decreases in height, 
 and passes the city of Hang-chau at I. 45, soon to break up and 
 , disappear. 
 
 A quarter of an hour after the Bore has passed Haining the water 
 , has risen to 13 feet, and at II. hours to 18 feet. It is high water 
 . 19 feet at III. hours, and the stream at once commences to run out 
 swiftly. At V. hours it is at the mean level : at VIII. hours it is 
 nearly low water. The outgoing stream, however, continues to run 
 to the eastward with great velocity until the arrival of the next 
 Bore. The water is at its lowest for the 2 hours preceding the 
 Bore. 
 
 It is high water at the city of Hang-chau about the same time as at 
 Haining, but the rise and fall does not exceed 6 or 7 feet. 
 
 At Haining, therefore, the flood lasts for 3 hours, the ebb, if such 
 it may be called, for 9 hours. At the city the flood continues for 
 H hours, and is nearly all in the Bore. 
 
 There is no place in the river where boats can be secured in safety ■ 
 2^ hours after high water. All trafBc between Haining and Hang- 
 chau begins soon after the Bore has passed, and ends 2 hours after 
 high water, a period of from 3 to 4 hours. 
 
 On the right, or south, bank of the Tsien-tang, the stream — at any 
 rate for 5 or 6 miles inside the mouth of the river — commences to run 
 out strong an hour before high water at Haining. 
 
 Opposite the city the Bore, if it occurs at all, is not regarded in 
 any way dangerous for 15 or 20 days in the month. 
 
 At Haining the natives state positively that it comes with every 
 flood tide ; but that in calm weather and neaps it is only 2 or 3 feet 
 high. 
 
 It is probably always dangerous on account of its speed. At springs. 
 I have shown it is most formidable. Navigation for ships is out of 
 the question. 
 
38 
 
 The regrularity of its appearance and shape, the distance ' at which 
 it is heard kt night and seen by day ; its charge against the sea wall ; 
 its speed, height gleaming front, and thundering roar as it tears past 
 the observer, render it a most impressive phenomenon. 
 
 1 have the honour to be 
 Sir,, 
 Your most obedient Servant, 
 
 W. TJSBORNE MOORE, 
 Commander. 
 
 The Hydrographer of the Admiralty. 
 
39 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 SimultaneoTis observations of the differences of water level ai 
 Changtau harbour and "West Volcano island 4th September, to. 8th 
 September 1888. 
 
 
 Above or below 
 
 
 
 4th Sep- 
 tember 1888. 
 
 Mean Sea Level. 
 
 Difference 
 of 
 
 Bemarks. 
 
 
 
 
 Hour. 
 
 Cluuigtati. 
 
 W .Volcano 
 
 level. 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 -4 4 
 
 -4 7 
 
 3 
 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 -3 7 
 
 -5 1 
 
 1 6 
 
 
 V. 
 
 -2 8 
 
 -5 
 
 2 4 
 
 
 V. 30 
 
 -1 6 
 
 -4 7 
 
 3 1 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 -0 2 
 
 -3 8 
 
 3 6 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 +1 3 
 
 -2 6 
 
 3 9 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 +2 7 
 
 -1 1 
 
 3 8 
 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 +3 8 
 
 -0 1 
 
 3 9 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 +4 5 
 
 + 1 2 
 
 3 3 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 +5 1 
 
 +2 5 
 
 2 8 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 +5 4 
 
 +3 7 
 
 1 9 
 
 IX. 5, High Water Changtau 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 + 5 3 
 
 +4 8 
 
 7 
 
 harbour. 
 
 X. 
 
 +5 
 
 +5 4 
 
 4 
 
 
 X. 30 
 
 +4 5 
 
 +5 6 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 XI. 
 
 +3 9 
 
 + 5 2 
 
 1 5 
 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 + 3 2 
 
 +4 10 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 Midnight. 
 
 +2 4 
 
 +4 4 
 
 2 2 
 
 
 5th Sbptbmbbb 1888. 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 0. 30 
 
 + 1 4 
 
 +3 9 
 
 2 5 
 
 I. 
 
 +0 3 
 
 +3 2 
 
 2 11 
 
 I. 30 
 
 -0 10 
 
 +2 6 
 
 3 4 
 
 II. 
 
 -1 10 
 
 +1 4 
 
 3 2 
 
 II. 30 
 
 -2 9 
 
 + 4 
 
 3 1 
 
 III. 
 
 -3 8 
 
 -0 9 
 
 2 11 
 
 III. 30 
 
 -4 
 
 -1 9 
 
 2 3 
 
 IV. 
 
 -4 1 
 
 -2 7 
 
 1 6 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 -3 11 
 
 -3 5 
 
 6 
 
 V. 
 
 -3 5 
 
 -4 4 
 
 11 
 
 V. 30 
 
 -2 7 
 
 -4 9 
 
 2 2 
 
 VI. 
 
 -1 6 
 
 -4 10 
 
 3 4 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 -0 3 
 
 -4 3 
 
 4 
 
 VII. 
 
 +0 10 
 
 -3 2 
 
 4 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 + 1 11 
 
 -2 
 
 3 11 
 
 iTIII. 
 
 +2 9 
 
 -1 
 
 3 9 
 
 Till. 30 
 
 +3 4 
 
 +0 1 
 
 3 3 
 
 h. m. 
 III. 55, LoAV Water Changtau. 
 
40 
 
 Appendix A. — cont. 
 
 5th Sep- 
 tember 1888. ' 
 
 Above or below 
 Mean Sea Level. 
 
 Hour. ■ Changtau. 
 
 W .Volcano 
 
 Difference 
 
 of 
 
 level. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 A.M. 
 IX. 
 IX. 30 
 X. 
 
 X. 30 
 XI. 
 XI. 30 
 Noon. 
 
 P.M. 
 
 0. 30 
 
 1. 
 I. 30 
 
 II. 
 
 II. 30 
 
 III. 
 
 III. 30 
 
 IV. 
 IV. 30 
 
 V. 
 
 V. 30 
 
 VI. 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 VII. 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 VIII. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 IX. 
 
 IX. 
 
 X. 
 
 X. 
 
 XI. 
 
 XI. 30 
 Midnight. 
 
 
 30 
 
 
 30 
 
 
 30 
 
 
 
 A.M. 
 
 0. 30 
 
 1. 
 I. 30 
 
 II. 
 
 II. 30 
 
 III. 
 
 III. 30 
 
 IV. 
 IV. 30 
 
 Ft. in, 
 + 3 6 
 + 3 5 
 +3 2 
 +2 10 
 +2 6 
 +1 11 
 + 1 
 
 
 -1 1 
 -2 4 
 -3 5 
 -4 4 
 -4 11 
 -5 5 
 -5 6 
 -5 
 -4 
 -3 
 -2 
 -1 
 +0 
 
 2 
 5 
 
 6, 
 6 
 2 
 5 
 
 +2 
 
 +4 
 
 +4 
 
 + 5 
 
 + 5 
 
 + 5 
 
 +5 
 
 +4 
 
 +4 
 
 + 3 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 + 1 
 
 +1 10 
 
 + 2 8 
 
 +3 1 
 
 +3 9 
 
 +3 9 
 
 +3 5 
 
 + 2 11 
 
 +2 2 
 
 + 1 
 
 + 2 
 
 -0 10 
 
 -1 8 
 
 -2 7 
 
 -3 6 
 
 -4 3 
 
 -5 
 
 -5 6 
 
 -5 6 
 
 -4 9 
 
 -3 5 
 
 -2 4- 
 
 -1 5 
 
 +0 4 
 
 + 2 2 
 
 +3 7 
 
 + 4 7 
 
 + 5 5 
 
 + 5 9 
 
 + 5 10 
 
 + 5 9 
 
 Ft. in. 
 2 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 10 
 
 2 5 
 
 2 11 
 
 3 3 
 
 h. m. 
 
 IX. 5, High Water Changtau. 
 
 2 10 
 2 
 11 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 3 7 
 
 3 10 
 
 4 4 
 
 5 5 
 4 5 
 3 
 
 1 10 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1 7 
 
 2 2 
 
 6th, September 1888. 
 
 III. 50 L.W. Changtau, 
 
 IX. 45 H.W Changtau. 
 
 +2 5 
 
 + 5 5 
 
 3 
 
 + 1 3 
 
 +4 6 
 
 3 3 
 
 +0 2 
 
 +3 5 
 
 3 3 
 
 -1 
 
 +2 2 
 
 3 2 
 
 -2 2 
 
 +0 11 
 
 3 1 
 
 -3 2 
 
 -0 1 
 
 3 1 
 
 -4 
 
 -1 2 
 
 2 10 
 
 -4 6 
 
 -1 10 
 
 2 8 
 
 -4 8 
 
 -2 7 
 
 2 1 
 
 IV. 35 L.W. Changtau. 
 
41 
 
 Appendix A. — cont. 
 
 
 Above or below 
 
 
 
 eth Sep- 
 tember 1888. 
 
 Mean Sea Level. 
 
 Difference 
 of 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 
 
 
 Hour. 
 
 Cbangtau. 
 
 W.Voloano 
 
 level. 
 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 V. 
 
 -4 7 
 
 -3 8 
 
 11 
 
 
 V. 30 
 
 -4 4 
 
 -4 7 
 
 3 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 -3 5 
 
 -5 5 
 
 2 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 -2 1 
 
 -5 7 
 
 3 6 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 -0 11 
 
 -5 1 
 
 4 2 
 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 +0 4 
 
 -3 11 
 
 4 3 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 + 1 6 
 
 -2 7 
 
 4 1 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 +2 10 
 
 -1 5 
 
 4 3 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 +3 5 
 
 -0 3 
 
 3 8 
 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 +3 8 
 
 +0 9 
 
 2 11 
 
 IX. 45 H.W. Changtau. 
 
 X. 
 
 + 3 8 
 
 + 1 9 
 
 1 11 
 
 
 X. 30 
 
 +3 6 
 
 +2 7 
 
 11 
 
 . 
 
 XI. 
 
 +3 2 
 
 +3 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 +2 7 
 
 +3 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 Noon. 
 
 + 1 11 
 
 +3 9 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 
 
 
 
 0. 30 
 
 + 1 
 
 +3 5 
 
 2 5 
 
 
 I. 
 
 -0 1 
 
 +3 1 
 
 3 2 
 
 
 I. 30 
 
 -1 3 
 
 + 2 3 
 
 3 6 
 
 
 II. 
 
 -2 5 
 
 + 1 2 
 
 3 7 
 
 
 II. 30 
 
 -3 8 
 
 
 
 3 8 
 
 
 III. 
 
 -4 10 
 
 -1 
 
 3 10 
 
 
 III. 30 
 
 -5 10 
 
 -2 
 
 3 10 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 -6 4 
 
 -3 
 
 3 4 
 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 -6 7 
 
 -3 11 
 
 2 8 
 
 IV. h. 40 m. L. W. Changtau. 
 
 V. 
 
 -6 5 
 
 -4 11 
 
 1 6 
 
 
 V. 30 
 
 -5 9 
 
 -6 
 
 3 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 -4 10 
 
 -6 6 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 -3 7 
 
 -6 8 
 
 3 1 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 -2 1 
 
 -6 3 
 
 4 2 
 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 -0 1 
 
 -4 9 
 
 4 8 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 + 1 11 
 
 -3 
 
 4 11 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 + 3 5 
 
 -1 3 
 
 4 8 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 +4 5 
 
 +0 4 
 
 4 1 
 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 +5 1 
 
 +1 9 
 
 3 4 
 
 
 X. 
 
 +5 7 
 
 + 2 10 
 
 2 9 
 
 X. h. 25 m. H. W. Changtau. 
 
 X. 30 
 
 +5 8 
 
 + 3 9 
 
 1 11 
 
 
 XI. 
 
 +5 5 
 
 +4 7 
 
 10 
 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 +5 
 
 +5 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 Midnight 
 
 +4 5 
 
 + 5 10 
 
 1 5 
 
 
 7th September 1888. 
 
 A.M, 
 
 
 
 
 0. 30 
 
 +3 7 
 
 +5 10 
 
 2 3 
 
 I. 
 
 +2 5 
 
 +5 6 
 
 3 1 
 
 I. 30 
 
 + 1 4 
 
 +4 8 
 
 3 4 
 
 S.O. 10833. 
 
 C 3 
 

 
 
 42 
 
 
 Appendix A. — cont. 
 
 
 Above or below 
 
 
 
 7th Sep- 
 tember 1888. 
 
 Mean Sea Level. 
 
 Difference 
 
 of 
 
 level. 
 
 Bemarks. 
 
 Hour. 
 
 Cha,Tigtau 
 
 W.Voloano 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 II. 
 
 +0 3 
 
 + 3 7 
 
 3 4 
 
 
 II. 30 
 
 -1 
 
 + 2 7 
 
 3 7 
 
 
 III. 
 
 -2 4 
 
 + 1 7 
 
 3 11 
 
 
 III. 30 
 
 -3 6 
 
 + 7 
 
 4 1 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 -4 4 
 
 -0 5 
 
 3 11 
 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 -5 2 
 
 -1 5 
 
 3 9 
 
 
 V. 
 
 -5 6 
 
 -2 7 
 
 2 11 
 
 Vh. Om. L.W. at Changtau. . 
 
 V. 30 
 
 -5 4 
 
 -3 9 
 
 1 7 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 -5 
 
 -5 
 
 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 -4 1 
 
 -5 9 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 -2 11 
 
 -6 3 
 
 3 4 
 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 -1 4 
 
 -6 
 
 4 6 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 +0 6 
 
 -4 6 
 
 5 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 +2 
 
 -3 
 
 5 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 +3 1 
 
 -1 7 
 
 4 8 
 
 
 ^ IX. 30 
 
 +4 
 
 -0 6 
 
 4 6 
 
 
 X. 
 
 +4 3" 
 
 + 7 
 
 3 8 
 
 
 X. 30 
 
 +4 4 
 
 + 1 6 
 
 2 10 
 
 Xh. 30ni. H.W. at Changtau. 
 
 XI. 
 
 +4 3 
 
 +2 8 
 
 1 7 
 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 +3 11 
 
 +3 5 
 
 6 
 
 
 Noon 
 
 + 3 4 
 
 +3 9 
 
 5 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 
 
 
 
 30 
 
 + 2 6 
 
 +4 1 
 
 1 7 
 
 
 I. 
 
 + 1 7 
 
 +4 
 
 2 5 
 
 
 I. 30 
 
 +0 5 
 
 +3 7 
 
 3 2 
 
 
 II. 
 
 -0 7 
 
 +2 9 
 
 3 4 
 
 
 II. 30 
 
 -1 10 
 
 + 1 9 
 
 3 7 
 
 
 III. 
 
 -3 1 
 
 +0 9 
 
 3 10 
 
 
 III. 30 
 
 -4 2 
 
 -0 3 
 
 3 11 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 -5 4 
 
 -1 3 
 
 4 1 
 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 -6 
 
 -2 6 
 
 ;! 6 
 
 
 V. 
 
 -6 3 
 
 -3 5 
 
 2 10 
 
 V. h. 25 m. L.W. Changtau. . 
 
 V. 30 
 
 -6 5 
 
 -4 3 
 
 2 2 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 -5 8 
 
 -5 
 
 8 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 -4 9 
 
 -5 10 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 -3 5 
 
 -6 
 
 2 7 
 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 -1 7 
 
 -5 2 
 
 3 7 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 +0 6 
 
 -4 2 
 
 4 8 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 + 2 2 
 
 -3 
 
 5 2 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 + 3 7 
 
 -1 6 
 
 5 1 
 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 +5 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 X. 
 
 +5 7 
 
 + 1 4 
 
 4 3 
 
 
 X. 30 
 
 + 5 11 
 
 + 2 7 
 
 3 4 
 
 
 XI. 
 
 + 6 1 
 
 + 3 8 
 
 2 .5 
 
 XI. h. 5 m. H.W. at Changtau. 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 + 6 
 
 +4 11 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 Midnight 
 
 + 5 8 
 
 + 5 11 
 
 3 
 
 
43 
 Appendix A. — eont. 
 
 Sth Sep- 
 tember 1888. 
 
 Above or below 
 
 
 
 Mean Sea Level. 
 
 Difference 
 of 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kemarka. 
 
 Hour. 
 
 Changtau. 
 
 W.Voloano 
 
 level. 
 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 0. 30 
 
 +4 9 
 
 + 6 4 
 
 1 7 
 
 
 I. 
 
 +4 2 
 
 + 6 5 
 
 2 3 
 
 
 I. 30 
 
 + 3 3 
 
 + 6 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 II. 
 
 +2 1 
 
 +5 9 
 
 3 8 
 
 
 II. 30 
 
 + 1 
 
 +4 9 
 
 3 9 
 
 
 III. 
 
 -0 1 
 
 + 3 7 
 
 3 8 
 
 
 III. 30 
 
 -1 8 
 
 +2 5 
 
 4 1 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 -3 1 
 
 + 1 3 
 
 4 4 
 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 -4 
 
 +0 3 
 
 4 3 
 
 
 V. 
 
 -4 6 
 
 -0 6 
 
 4 
 
 
 V. 30 
 
 -4 10 
 
 -1 8 
 
 3 2 
 
 V. h. 50 m. L.W. Changtau. 
 
 VI. 
 
 -4 11. 
 
 -2 9 
 
 2 2 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 -4 6 
 
 -3 8 
 
 10 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 -3 7 
 
 -4 10 
 
 1 3 
 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 -2 4 
 
 -5 5 
 
 3 1 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 -1 1 
 
 -5 3 
 
 4 2 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 +0 3 
 
 -4 4 
 
 4 7 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 + 2 7 
 
 -2 4 
 
 5 1 
 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 + 3 8 
 
 -1 
 
 4 8 
 
 
 X. 
 
 +4 9 
 
 +0 2 
 
 4 7 
 
 
 X. 30 
 
 + 5 2 
 
 + 1 4 
 
 3 10 
 
 X. h. 50 m. H.W. at Changtau. 
 
 XI. 
 
 +5 2 
 
 +2 3 
 
 2 11 
 
 
 • XI. 30 
 
 + 5 
 
 +3 4 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 Noon 
 
 +4 7 
 
 +4 5 
 
 2 
 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 Simultaneous observations of the distance of the water from mean 
 level at Haining, Rambler island, and West Volcano island. Full 
 Moon, September 1888. 
 
 
 
 Ditf.Level 
 
 
 20tli Sep- 
 
 Above or below Mean Level. 
 
 between 
 
 
 tember 1888. 
 
 
 Bambler 
 
 Island and 
 
 W.Volcano 
 
 Island. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Hour. 
 
 Haining. 
 
 Rambler 
 Island. 
 
 West 
 Volcano. 
 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 Noon. 
 
 
 -F- 8 2 
 
 + 4 4 
 
 3 10 
 
 
 0. 30 
 
 ... 
 
 -f 9 3 
 
 +4 3 
 
 5 
 
 
 I. 
 
 ... 
 
 -MO 1 
 
 +i 8 
 
 6 5 
 
 
 I. 30 
 
 -H9 
 
 + 10 4 
 
 -t-3 ,0 
 
 7 4 
 
 
 II. 
 
 -1-9 & 
 
 -f-10 
 
 +2 
 
 8 
 
 
44 
 
 
 
 
 Appendix 'B.-^Cont.. 
 
 
 
 -- • 
 
 
 
 Dife.Levei 
 
 
 20tli Sep- . 
 
 Above 01 
 
 below Mean Level. 
 
 between 
 
 
 tember 1888. 
 
 
 
 
 Rambler 
 
 Island and 
 
 W.Volcauo 
 
 Island. 
 
 Bemarks. 
 
 Hour. 
 
 Haining. 
 
 Eambler 
 island. 
 
 W.Volcano 
 
 P.M. 
 
 Ft. 
 
 in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 II. 30 
 
 +9 
 
 6 
 
 + 96 
 
 + 11 
 
 8 7 
 
 
 III. 
 
 +9 
 
 
 
 + 8 1 
 
 -0. 1 
 
 8 2 
 
 
 III. 30 
 
 
 
 + 5 9 
 
 -1 1 
 
 4 8 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 
 
 + 33 
 
 -1 10 
 
 5 1 
 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 
 
 + 12, 
 
 -2 10 
 
 . 4 
 
 
 V. 
 
 o'" 
 
 
 
 -15 
 
 -3 6 
 
 2 1 
 
 
 V. 30 
 
 
 
 -45 
 
 -4 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 
 
 -65 
 
 -4 8 
 
 1 9 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 
 
 -86 
 
 -4 11 
 
 3 7 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 
 
 -10 2 
 
 -4 8 
 
 5 6 
 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 
 
 -10 11 
 
 -3 9 
 
 7 2 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 
 
 -11 3 
 
 -2 5 
 
 8 10 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 
 
 -11 4 
 
 -1 1 
 
 10 3 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 
 
 -10 9 
 
 + 4 
 
 11 1 
 
 
 ■ IX. 30 
 
 -8" 
 
 
 
 - 8 10 
 
 + 1 6 
 
 10 4 
 
 ■ 
 
 X. 
 
 -9 
 
 
 
 -43 
 
 +2 7 
 
 6 10 
 
 • Birth of the Bore. 
 
 X. 30 
 
 -9 
 
 
 
 + 13 
 
 +3 6 
 
 2 3 
 
 
 "XI. 
 
 -9 
 
 6 
 
 + 59 
 
 +4 4 
 
 1 5 
 
 ( Pressure on 
 
 . XI. 30 
 
 -9 
 
 6 
 
 + 83 
 
 +4 11 
 
 3 4 
 
 \ Rambler island 
 ( removed. 
 
 Midnight. 
 
 -9 
 
 9 
 
 + 9 6 
 
 + 5 6 
 
 4 
 
 ( Bore passed 
 ( Haining XII. 20. 
 
 21ST September 1888. 
 
 A.M. 
 
 0. 30 
 
 1. 
 I. 30 
 
 II. 
 
 II. 30 
 
 III. 
 
 III. 30 
 
 IV. 
 IV. 30 
 
 V. 
 
 V. 30 
 
 VI. 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 . VII. 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 VIII. 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 + 30 
 
 + 10 4 
 
 +5 7 
 
 4 9 
 
 + .7 
 
 +11 3 
 
 + 5 2 
 
 6 1 
 
 + 80 
 
 + 11 7 
 
 +4 6 
 
 7 1 
 
 + 90 
 
 + 11 5 
 
 +3 7 
 
 7 10 
 
 + 96 
 
 + 10 11 
 
 + 2 5 
 
 8 6 
 
 + 10 
 
 + 9 10 
 
 + 1 4 
 
 8 6 
 
 +10 
 
 + 7 
 
 +0 3 
 
 6 9 
 
 + 96 
 
 + 50 
 
 -0 9 
 
 5 9 
 
 ■ ■■ 
 
 + 26 
 
 -1 10 
 
 4 4 
 
 .>. 
 
 + 01 
 
 -2 10 
 
 2 11 
 
 
 
 -27 
 
 -3 9 
 
 1 2 
 
 ... 
 
 -50 
 
 -4 6 
 
 6 
 
 ... 
 
 -75 
 
 -5 
 
 2 5 
 
 ... 
 
 -93 
 
 -5 6 
 
 3 9 
 
 ... 
 
 -10 5 
 
 -5 4 
 
 5 1 
 
 ... 
 
 -11 3 
 
 -4 5 
 
 6 10 
 
 ... 
 
 -11 9 
 
 -2 10 
 
 8 11 
 
45 
 
 Appendix B. — cont. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Diff.Level 
 
 
 
 Above or below Mean Level. | 
 
 between 
 
 
 21st Sep- 
 
 (Tr 
 
 1 
 
 water at 
 Elambler J. 
 
 ■ 
 
 tember 1888. 
 
 
 
 Eambler 
 Island. 
 
 
 Ketnarks. 
 
 Hour. 
 
 flaining. 
 
 W.Voloanc 
 
 and W. 
 Volcano. 
 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 .IX. 
 
 ... 
 
 
 -12 
 
 -1 8 
 
 10 4 
 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 . ■ • 
 
 
 -11 8 
 
 -0 7 
 
 11 1 
 
 
 X. 
 
 - 9 
 
 
 
 -94 
 
 + 10 
 
 10 2 
 
 ) 
 
 X. 30 
 
 - 9 
 
 
 
 -36 
 
 + 1 7 
 
 5 1 
 
 [Birth of the Bore. 
 
 XI. 
 
 - 9 
 
 
 
 + 23 
 
 ,+2 6 
 
 3 
 
 Pressure removed 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 - 9 
 
 
 
 + 47 
 
 +3 2 
 
 1 5 
 
 from Eambler 
 ( island. 
 
 Noon. 
 
 - 9 
 
 6 
 
 + 73 
 
 +3 7 
 
 3 8 
 
 
 P.M. 
 
 0. 30 
 
 - 9 
 
 6 
 
 + 83 
 
 +3 9 
 
 4 6 
 
 j 0. 36 Bore passed 
 \ Haiining. 
 
 I. 
 
 + 4 
 
 
 
 + 8 11 
 
 +3 7 
 
 5 4 
 
 
 I. 30 
 
 • ■. 
 
 
 + 96 
 
 +3 4 
 
 6 2 
 
 ' 
 
 11. 
 
 ■ ■■ 
 
 
 + 9 10 
 
 +2 6 
 
 7 4 
 
 
 II. 30 
 
 + 9 
 
 
 
 + 97 
 
 + 1 5 
 
 8 2 
 
 i 
 
 III. 
 
 + 9 
 
 
 
 + 8 11 
 
 +0 4 
 
 8 7 
 
 
 III. 30 
 
 + 9 
 
 
 
 + 75 
 
 -0 10 
 
 8 3 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 + 9 
 
 
 
 + 53 
 
 -1 8 
 
 6 11 
 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 ■ ■ * 
 
 
 + 29 
 
 -2 8 
 
 5 5 
 
 
 V. 
 
 ■ •■ 
 
 
 + 04 
 
 -3 8. 
 
 4 
 
 
 V. 30 
 
 
 
 0. 
 
 -23 
 
 4 4 
 
 2 1 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 •*• 
 
 
 -48 
 
 -4 11; 
 
 3 
 
 ' 
 
 VI, 30 
 
 ■ •• 
 
 
 -71 
 
 -5 10 
 
 1 3 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 ■ •■ 
 
 
 -92 
 
 -6 1 
 
 3 1 
 
 
 . VII. 30 
 
 
 
 -10 8 
 
 -6 o; 
 
 4 8 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 ■ .. 
 
 
 -11 6 
 
 -5 3 
 
 6 3 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 ■ * • 
 
 
 -12 
 
 -3 10 
 
 8 2 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 ■ ■ > 
 
 
 -12 5 
 
 -2 4 
 
 10 1 
 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 ■ • ■ 
 
 
 -12 4 
 
 -0 11 
 
 11 5 
 
 
 X. 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 -10 7 
 
 +0 4 
 
 10 11 
 
 
 X. 30 
 
 ... 
 
 
 -46 
 
 + 1 7: 
 
 6 1 
 
 Birth of the Bore. 
 
 XI. 
 
 - 9 
 
 
 
 + 1 3 
 
 + 2 8 
 
 1 5 
 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 - 9 
 
 
 
 + •4 9 
 
 + 3 4 
 
 1 5 
 
 1 Pressijire at Ram- 
 [ . bleif I. renajoved. 
 
 MidnigM. 
 
 - 9 
 
 
 
 + 6 11 
 
 +4 
 
 2 11 
 
 
 22nd Sbptembbb 1888. 
 
 A.M. 
 
 0. 30 
 
 1. 
 I. 30 
 
 II. 
 II. 30 
 
 -9 
 
 H- 8 
 
 +4 4 
 
 3 8 
 
 +3 
 
 ^ 8 11 
 
 +4 6 
 
 4 5 
 
 • • ■ 
 
 +10 2 
 
 +4 4 
 
 5 10 . 
 
 ■ ■• 
 
 +10 6 
 
 +3 10 
 
 6 8 
 
 1 
 
 +10 7 
 
 +2 8 
 
 7 11 : 
 
 0. 52 |Bore passed 
 ; Haiining; 
 
4(j 
 
 Appendix B. — cont. 
 
 
 
 Dilf. Level 
 
 
 22nd Sep- 
 
 Above or below Mean Level. 
 
 between 
 
 
 tember 1888. 
 
 
 Rambler 
 Island and 
 W.Volcano 
 ■ Island. 
 
 Bemarks. 
 
 Hour. 
 
 Haining. 
 
 Kambler 
 Island. 
 
 W.Voloauc 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 Ft. in. 
 
 
 III. 
 
 + 90 
 
 + 10 3 
 
 + 1 7 
 
 8 8 
 
 
 III. 30 
 
 + 90 
 
 + 90 
 
 + 7 
 
 8 3 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 + 96 
 
 + 73 
 
 -0 4 
 
 7 7 
 
 
 IV. SO 
 
 + 90 
 
 + 46 
 
 -1 6 
 
 6 
 
 
 V. 
 
 
 + 1 11 
 
 -2 7 
 
 4 6 
 
 
 V. 30 
 
 • •■ 
 
 - 7 
 
 -3 2 
 
 2 7 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 
 
 -29 
 
 -3 11 
 
 1 2 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 • • • 
 
 -63 
 
 -4 8 
 
 1 7 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 ... 
 
 -79 
 
 -5 6 
 
 2 3 
 
 
 VII. 30. 
 
 ... 
 
 -99 
 
 -5 9 
 
 4 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 ... 
 
 -10 9 
 
 -5 5 
 
 5 4 
 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 
 -11 5 
 
 -4 4 
 
 7 1 
 
 
 IX. 
 
 ... 
 
 -12 
 
 -2 10 
 
 9 2 
 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 ... 
 
 -12 2 
 
 -1 6 
 
 10 6 
 
 
 X, 
 
 ■ ■■ 
 
 -11 8 
 
 -0 4 
 
 11 4 
 
 
 . X. 30 
 XI. 
 
 - 9" 
 
 - 8 3 
 -19 
 
 + 9 
 +1 11 
 
 9 
 3 8 
 
 JThe Birth of the 
 Bore. 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 -90 
 
 + 30 
 
 + 2 10 
 
 2 
 
 Noon. 
 
 P.M. 
 
 -96 
 
 + 51 
 
 + 3 7 
 
 1 6 
 
 J Pressure at Ram- 
 bler I. removed. 
 
 0. 3 
 
 -10 
 
 + 7 1 
 
 +4 2 
 
 2 11 
 
 
 I. 
 
 -16 
 
 + 80 
 
 +4 4' 
 
 3 8 
 
 ( I. 10 Bore passed 
 ( Haining. 
 
 I. 30 
 
 + 30 
 
 + 93 
 
 +4 4 
 
 4 11 
 
 
 II. 
 
 ... 
 
 +10 2 
 
 +3 11 
 
 6 3 
 
 
 II. 30 
 
 ... 
 
 +10 5 
 
 + 3 3 
 
 7. 2 
 
 
 III. 
 
 • •. 
 
 +10 3 
 
 + 2 4 
 
 7 11 
 
 
 III. 30 
 
 + 90 
 
 + 97 
 
 + 1 
 
 8 7 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 + 90 
 
 + 8 1 
 
 
 
 8 1 
 
 
 IV. 30 
 
 + 86 
 
 + 57 
 
 -0 10 
 
 6 5 
 
 
 -• V. 
 
 ...■ 
 
 + 2 10 
 
 -1 10 
 
 4 8 
 
 
 V. 30 
 
 ... 
 
 + 09 
 
 -2 10 
 
 3 7 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 
 
 -17 
 
 -3 6 
 
 5 1 
 
 
 VI. 30 
 
 ... 
 
 -43 
 
 -4 4 
 
 1 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 ... 
 
 -6 7 
 
 -4 10 
 
 1 9 
 
 
 VII. 30 
 
 
 -88 
 
 -5 4 
 
 3 4 
 
 
 VIII. 
 
 ... 
 
 -10 3 
 
 -5 4 
 
 4 11 
 
 - 
 
 VIII. 30 
 
 ... 
 
 -11 2 
 
 -4 10 
 
 6 4 
 
 
 , IX. 
 
 • •• 
 
 -11 7 
 
 -3 2 
 
 8 5; 
 
 
 IX. 30 
 
 ■ •■ 
 
 -11 9 
 
 -1 9 
 
 10 0. 
 
 
 X. 
 
 ■ •■ 
 
 -11 6 
 
 -0 9- 
 
 10 9 
 
 
 X. 30 
 
 ... 
 
 -9 4 
 
 +0 3 
 
 9 7i 
 
 ] 
 
 XI. 
 
 ... 
 
 -37 
 
 + 1 8 
 
 5 3: 
 
 !• Birth of the Bore. 
 
 XI. 30 
 
 
 + 1 11 
 
 +2 10 
 
 11; 
 
 1 : • 
 
 Midnight 
 
 - 9 0. 
 
 + 51 
 
 +3 6 
 
 1 7; 
 
 i PfesBTire at Ram- 
 bler I. removed. 
 
4" 
 
 APPENDIX C. 
 
 PROOFS OP THE SPEED, AND EVIDENCE ON WHICH THE HEIGHTS 
 OP THE DIPPBRBNT BORES WERE ESTIMATED 
 
 SPEED. 
 
 SHORB 
 
 BHOTA PAGODA^ 
 
 A base AB, 821 feet was measured in a direction perpendicular 
 to the general direction of the Bore. Observers at P and C, having- 
 the line between them through A and rectangular to AB, observed 
 the angles APB, ACB, thus obtaining AP ^ 3463 feet 
 
 AC = 4326 „ 
 Total length of base CP = 7789 „ 
 
 Three observers with chronometers were stationed at C, A, and P. 
 C and P had the telescoi^es of their theodolites parallel and at right 
 angles to the line CAP. Observer at A had previously walked to B 
 and selec'ted an object on the opposite bank of the river in line with 
 A. As the Bore passed, observers at C and P took the time when 
 the left extreme of the foot of the cascade passed the wire of his 
 theodolite. Observer at A took the same phase passed the object he 
 had chosen. 
 
 Result :— M.T. place. 
 
 Bore passed C 
 
 H. M. 
 
 ,. 1 21 
 1 25 
 
 a. 
 
 50 
 
 15 
 
 
 1 27 
 
 54 
 
48 
 
 This gave the speed as observed between C and P 12'71 knots. 
 
 )> ,) „ )! C „ A 12'"53 „ 
 
 )> » >? » -^ )> P .12'90 „ 
 
 It will be seen that 2^ hours elapses from the time of sudden rise 
 at Rambler island to the time Bore passes Haining. The distance, is 
 29 miles. 
 
 Also that 1 h. 7 m. elapsed between the Bore passing Haining and 
 a position on the sea wall 15 miles to the south-west of Haining. 
 
 The following account of a Bore, by the Bishop of Mid-China. 
 gives an idea of its speed as it proceeds up the river : — 
 
 "I felt the sudden rush of the tide at about 5 or 6 a.m., (biit 
 *' cannot be certain to half an hour either way) on May 29th, 
 " this year, 1888, (4 days after full moon) at a place about 100 li 
 " above Hang-chau, a little short of Tsien-shan (a picturesquely 
 " placed town 107 li from Hang-chow, called from a striking pyramid 
 *' hill round which the river makes a sharp bend, and just above 
 " which it is spanned by a bridge of boats); We were sculling and 
 " towing when the trackers were suddenly called to come on board 
 " and had only just time to do so when a smooth wave (perhaps 2 
 *' feet above the previous level) came swiftly up and took us up 
 " stream at a great pace— I should say full 5 miles an hour. 
 " Unhappily T ■ have no detailed memoranda of the exact spot, 
 " but the 100 li, which the boatmen gave me in answer to my. 
 " immediate question, ' How far are we from Hang-chau ? ' places 
 " it between Lingp'u, a busy town 89 li, and tlie above-named.^ 
 " Tsien-shan, 107-11, from Hang-chau. ' 
 
 (Signed) G. E. MOULE." - 
 
 1 think it may be fairly assumed that the Bishop was about 40 mile^. 
 from Haining. On the night of the 28th May the Bore might have 
 been a little early, but it is out of reason that it could have passed' 
 Haining before 1.30. It was high water at Changtau harbour at 
 5 minutes after midnight ; and under ordinary circumstances the 
 Bore passes Haining Ih. 46m. after it is high water at Changtau. 
 
 This gives an average speed of about 10 knots between Haining 
 and the spot where the Bishop observed the Bore. 
 
 " This was probaWy a good Bore, as full moon corresponded nearly witli Perigee. 
 On the 26th and 27tli May the range of tide at Changtau harbour was 13 feet — 
 one foot more than ordinary springs. On the night of 28th, however, the range 
 was not extraordinary ; but the high water was early. 
 
49 
 
 HEIGHT. 
 
 A boat grounded at mean level, which is 9^ feet above lo*w water, |?-^-^? g -^^'^ 
 obtained a sounding of 9 feet, 15 minutes after the Bore passed. The 
 boat drew 3 feet water. This makes a hight of 15^ feet. By sub- 
 sequent observations, it was found that 15 minutes after a Bore had 
 passed — at spring tide — the water had risen 3 to 4 feet higher than 
 it was immediately after the cascade had gone by. This would make 
 the height of this Bore 10 to 11 feet. 
 
 An observer in a steam cutter aground at high water on the south Day^gore'''^'' 
 bank of the river opposite Halning, eye about 3 feet above high 
 water spring tide, saw the top of the Bore in line with keels of junks 
 on the shelter abreast of Bhota Pagoda. The keel of a junk is 
 7^ feet above the low line at springs, and the highest part of the Bore 
 is distant from junk about 4 cables. Junk from observer 2'3 miles. 
 Height of Bore 9 feet. 
 
 An observer at base station C, 5 feet above high water spring tide ?? September 
 observed the depression of the top of Bore to be 0° 4' 50''. Depres- 
 sion to top of sea wall 0° 1' 0". Distance of sea wall (approximate) 
 3 miles. Distance of top of Bore (approximate) 2'4 miles. Sea wall 
 about 24 feet above low water ordinary spring tide. 
 
 An observer at "base station A with eye level with high water 
 spring tide, considered the height of the Bore to be three-quarters " ,- , 
 that of the sea wall opposite. 
 
 An observer at base station P, eye level with high water spring 
 tide ; considered that a man on the sands was two-thirds as high as 
 the Bore. The man was of average height, and 1^ miles distant. 
 
 Bore, as before, 2*4 miles. 
 
 if 
 
 The same observer could .distinguish no difference in level, when 
 looking through the telescope of his theodolite, between the top of 
 the sea wall opposite, and the disturbed water on the back of the Bore. 
 
 Bore 10 to 11 feet. 
 
 Lieutenant Purey-Cust, who was on a junk shelter one-third of a 22Septeinbrr 
 
 . Night Bore, 
 
 mile west of the Pagoda at Haining, notes : " The side wave as it 
 
 " struck the embankment was not more than from 4 to 5 feet high, 
 
 " and the real wave outside apparently 8 to 10 feet. In about 
 
 " 3 minutes the tide rose 10 feet (probably the rapid rise was until 
 
 " level with the real wave outside)." Bore 8 to 10 feet. 
 
50 
 
 i October. 
 Day Bore. 
 
 5 October. 
 Day Bore. 
 
 5 October. 
 Nijrht Bore. 
 
 6 October, 
 Day Bore. 
 
 6 October. 
 Night Bore. 
 
 7 October. 
 Day Bore. 
 
 NEW MOON. 
 
 The side of the cascade washed the top of the piles, which, at that 
 time, were 5^, feet above the level of the nver. That part of the 
 cascade which was over the deep channel appeared to be higher. 
 Bore 5 to 6 feet. 
 
 Side of cascade level with top of piles, which, at that time, were 
 7 feet above the level of the river. Part of cascade over deep channel 
 higher. Five minutes after Bore passed, the junks on the shelter 
 moved. It required 9 feet water to move the junks. Estimated 
 that the crest of the cascade must have been nearly as high as the 
 level of the water five minutes after it had passed. Bore 8 feet. 
 
 Side of cascade passed level with top of piles, which were 7 feet 
 above the level of the river, and half a minute afterwards water was 
 up to bottom of wall. In 3 minutes junks were afloat, and surging 
 against wall. It reqilired 9 feet water to float junks. Height of 
 cascade over the deep water probably two feet higher than at the 
 side. Considered that, on this occasion, crest of cascade on passing 
 should be registered as high as the water at the wall 3 minutes later. 
 Bore 9 feet. 
 
 Top of piles hidden by the side of the cascade, and junks afloat 
 . 2 minutes later. Considered that the crest on passing was as high as 
 the water at the wall 2 minutes later. Bore 9 feet. 
 
 Side of the cascade swept over the piles and up to the bottom of 
 wall, which was 7^ feet above level of river at the time. No junk in 
 the berth abreast the Pagoda. In 7 minutes the water rose to 13 feet. 
 Considered that the crest of the Bore must have been 2 or 3 feet 
 higher than the side at the wall. Bore 10 feet. 
 
 Side of Bore floated the junks at once, which required 9 feet water 
 above the level of the river at the time. Crest about 2 feet higher 
 than side of cascade. Bore 10 to 11 feet. 
 
32° 
 
 31° I 
 
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 . , Volcaru) I'^ _ 12 ft. 
 
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 Eaining .. . 15 f}-. 
 
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