This place was supposed to be closed to foreigners, but
Charley and I had made many a secret visit, and had some rare sport
among the curiosity shops, with occasionally an adventure of a less
pleasing description, about which I should like to tell you if I had
time.
Rapidly we passed the suburbs of these cities, and drawing over to the
south bank, as the wind was light, the crew were ordered ashore, and
stretching themselves along a tow-rope extending from the mast-head,
the boat was soon moving quite rapidly. And that reminds me that I have
not yet described our boat. These boats, used by the gentry in
transporting themselves about the country, are almost like Noah's ark
on a small scale--a boat with a house running almost the entire length
of the deck, with little latticed windows on the outside, and the
interior divided into rooms for eating and sleeping. The crew all lived
aft on the great overhanging stern, where the cooking was done, and
where the handle of the great "yuloe," or sculling oar, protruded. In
front of the cabin was a little piece of deck-room where Charley and I
had our camp-stools, and which gave us an excellent place from which to
observe everything going on ahead.
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