[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
V
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 1.
322
C. O.
34370
[September 16]
SECTION 2 OCT OF
Consul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received September 16.)
(No. 24.) My Lord,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 23 of the 9th instant, I have now the honour to forward copies of Commander Carr's Report on the visit of His Majesty's ship "Sandpiper" to Nanning-fu, and of the account of the interviews on that occasion with Chinese officials with which he has had the kindness to furnish me.
I have, &c. (Signed)
B. C. GEORGE SCOTT.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Lieutenant-Commander Carr to Admiral Sir E. Seymour.
"Sandpiper," at Wuchow, June 22, 1901.
I HAVE the honour to forward the following Report on a journey to Nanning-fu
I left Wuchow on the 20th May with 30 feet on the watermark and the water still rising. It took three days to reach Kuei-hsien (152 miles), the current being very swift below Hsün-chow (59 miles).
The river began to fall slowly, and I was unable to proceed until the 3rd June, when a slight rise began, and enabled me to get to Lei-kung Hsü at the foot of the Rapid; but it began again to fall, and as the river becomes difficult between that and Kuei-hsien during low water I returned to the latter place.
While at Lei-kung Hsü I went up to the Great Rapid (Tai-t'an), 3 miles above, and inspected it, and came to the conclusion it was quite impassable.
On the 13th June, with fairly quickly rising water, I again left Kuei-hsien and proceeded to Lei-kung Hsü, but on arrival found the rise had stopped, and a fall of 1 foot occurred during the night. Next day, however, a rise took place, and by the following morning it had gone up nearly 4 feet.
As the result of an inspection of the Rapid the preceding morning I had come to the conclusion that this might be enough, and the pilots concurring, I left at 7:30 A.M. with full steam and made the attempt, which proved successful, but only just; and another time I consider it would be better to wait for at least another 1 to 2-foot rise.
There are three rapids, the first straight, but with a very strong current and heavy swirls; the second, and worst, has a very narrow channel, about 80 feet between the rocks, with nearly an 8-point turn and the water rushing down in whirlpools with huge eddies: one that broke under the ship listed her heavily, giving the impression of having struck the ground, and made her steer a little wild. I did not think it possible to turn in time, but with the aid of the propellers just managed to, and then with full power slowly pulled over, the stern just clearing the bank. The third rapid was not so bad, but it was necessary to edge over towards the right bank to work between rocks, which made it awkward. The current here was again very strong.
Above the Rapid the river is not difficult to Nanning with the present height, the ship had a better average speed than below.
The Great Rapid was the only real danger to encounter, and I consider crossed it with a bare margin of safety, and anything less would make it absolutely impossible and lead to certain wreck; as, having once started, there is no room to back, and coming down stern first is not possible because of the numerous turns in the channel.
[2999 17...]
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
CHINA TRADE.
V
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 1.
322
C. O.
34370
[September 16
SECTION 2 OCT OF
Consul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received September 16.)
(No. 24.) My Lord,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 23 of the 9th instant, I have now the
Canton, August 15, 1901. honour to forward copies of Commander Carr's Report on the visit of His Majesty's ship "Sandpiper" to Nanning-fu, and of the account of the interviews on that occasion with Chinese officials with which he has had the kindness to furnish me.
I have, &c. (Signed)
B. C. GEORGE SCOTT.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Lieutenant-Commander Carr to Admiral Sir E. Seymour.
"Sandpiper," at Wuchow, June 22, 1901.
I HAVE the honour to forward the following Report on a journey to Nanning-fu
I left Wuchow on the 20th May with 30 feet on the watermark and the water still rising. It took three days to reach Kuei-hsien (152 miles), the current being very swift below Hsün-chow (59 miles).
The river began to fall slowly, and I was unable to proceed until the 3rd June, when a slight rise began, and enabled me to get to Lei-kung Hsü at the foot of the Rapid; but it began again to fall, and as the river becomes difficult between that and Kuei-hsien during low water I returned to the latter place.
While at Lei-kung Hsü I went up to the Great Rapid (Tai-t'an), 3 miles above, and inspected it, and came to the conclusion it was quite impassable.
On the 13th June, with fairly quickly rising water, I again left Kuei-hsien and proceeded to Lei-kung Hsü, but on arrival found the rise had stopped, and a fall of 1 foot occurred during the night. Next day, however, a rise took place, and by the following morning it had gone up nearly 4 feet.
As the result of an inspection of the Rapid the preceding morning I had come to the conclusion that this might be enough, and the pilots concurring, I left at 7:30 A.M. with full steam and made the attempt, which proved successful, but only just; and another time I consider it would be better to wait for at least another 1 to 2-foot rise.
There are three rapids, the first straight, but with a very strong current and heavy swirls; the second, and worst, has a very narrow channel, about 80 feet between the rocks, with nearly an 8-point turn and the water rushing down in whirlpools with huge eddies: one that broke under the ship listed her heavily, giving the impression of having struck the ground, and made her steer a little wild. I did not think it possible to turn in time, but with the aid of the propellers just managed to, and then with full power slowly pulled over, the stern just clearing the bank. The third rapid was not so bad, but it was necessary to edge over towards the right bank to work between rocks, which made it awkward. The current here was again very strong.
Above the Rapid the river is not difficult to Nanning with the present height, the ship had a better average speed than below.
The Great Rapid was the only real danger to encounter, and I consid crossed it with a bare margin of safety, and anything less would make it abs impossible and lead to certain wreck; as, having once started, there is no room i back, and coming down stern first is not possible because of the numerous and turns in the channel.
[2999 17...
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