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Chapter
in
Hu-nan, the Closed Province of China
HE general condition of affairs as to the
hostility of the Hu-nanese and the difficulty
of travelling through Hu-nan was known
before our leaving New York, but on arriving in
Shanghai it was found that the political disturb-
ance following the coup (Vetat executed by the
Empress Dowager and the beheading of certain
members of the Reform or Emperor's Party, had
rendered the whole Chinese official class very
cautious about taking a decided stand upon any
important question, especially upon one looking
to the invasion of the country by foreigners, even
if they came with peaceful intents. A stop was
made in Shanghai only long enough to purchase
provisions and equipment, when the engineering
staff left there for Hankow to begin the survey
to Canton.
As our course from Hankow lay to the Nan-
ling Mountains, which form the divide of the
water-shed of the Yang-tze Valley from that of
the China Sea, along the Yang-tze and its trib-
utary the Siang for a distance of nearly five
hundred miles, it was decided to establish head-
quarters afloat, and thus avoid the difficulties and
dangers of sleeping on shore, except when the
latter was absolutely necessary. One morning
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