Lawrence Dundas

Name: A wandering student in the Far East — The problem of the Yang-tsze
Author: Lawrence Dundas

A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

Summary

“A wandering student in the Far East — The problem of the Yang-tsze”, published in 1908, is a work by Lawrence Dundas. It explores elements such as Ch'ung, rapids and Ichang.

Quotes from A wandering student in the Far East… (Lawrence Dundas)

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ The members of the Blackburn Commercial Mission ascended the stretch between Ichang and Ch'ung-k'ing in November, a time of year at which, as I have already pointed out, the real character of the rapids does not appear. Hence they reported that "the stretch between Ichang and Ch'ung-k'ing has been credited with a character which in the estimation of this mission is ill-deserved.... The terrors of the so-called rapids (sic) ... arise more from ignorance of fact and circumstance than experience." ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ During November, April, and May, the two periods of the year between high and low water when the river may be said to be asleep, navigation by light-draught powerful steamers may be undertaken with a certain degree of safety, and it has been during these months that such steamers as have made the passage have done so. But during the remaining nine months of the year the river presents two widely different phases, each equally dangerous to steam navigation,—its high-water phase and its low-water phase. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ Germany, whose earlier efforts were crowned with disaster, did not succeed in reaching Ch'ung-k'ing until May 1907, when the gun-boat Vaterland, which I found at Ichang waiting for a favourable opportunity to make a start, was successful, leaving Ichang on April 16th, and reaching Ch'ung-k'ing in nineteen days.
Nevertheless, the fact that light-draught steamers with powerful engines (leaving little or no room for cargo) can ascend the river at favourable times of the year is no proof whatsoever that they could be run as a commercial success. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ The rapids qua rapids do not by any means constitute the only obstacle to navigation, as is too generally supposed by those who have not thought it necessary to probe very deeply into the question before dogmatising upon it. It is its immense diversity of phase that renders the Yang-tsze so formidable a river. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ The vast volume of pent-in water meeting all manner of submerged obstacles dashes in zigzag from shore to shore, cannoning off walls of rock until the whole gorge becomes one rushing, gyrating mass of angry water. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ When it is seen that at the most favourable time of year for effecting a quick journey a traveller cannot expect to cover the 1400 odd miles in less than a month, it will be readily understood that merchandise may occupy anything from six weeks to three months from the coast to the commercial gateway of Ssŭch'uan, according to the state of the water and the time of year,—a matter of no small import to the people of the premier commercial and manufacturing nation. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ Again, "on a shipment of 600 boxes of soap the freight was Tls. 1225, and the insurance and other charges Tls. 486, making the cost of the consignment about 40 per cent of its original value"; [2] and £1, 4s. was given me by a Chinese retail merchant as the cost of bringing a bale of cotton Italians from Shanghai. Nor must it be forgotten that Ch'ung-k'ing is only on the threshold of the province. From here on, goods may have to travel several hundreds of miles farther by water, or be carried laboriously overland on the backs of animals or men. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ In the case of the Chin T'an and Hsin Lung T'an rapids there is a heavy fall in levels between top and bottom, amounting in the case of the latter to between seven and eight feet, while their danger is accentuated by powerful back-waters and vicious gyrating swirls. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Lawrence Dundas, A wandering student in the Far East… (1908)

“ Battling with the Yang-tsze.
tug and lighter alike being hauled up those rapids which do not prove amenable to steam in the same way as the ordinary junk. Such a scheme might be feasible for six or seven months in the year, and might even be carried on to a limited extent during high water, the passage being thereby quickened and greater regularity and security obtained. ”

Lawrence Dundas

Summary

Quotes from A wandering student in the Far East… (Lawrence Dundas)

Common terms

Similar works

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature