12 Aug.
CHINA NAVIGATION COMPANY’S
S.S. Wanhie.
Fungtu.!
Dearest Mother,
Am gradually getting nearer the Widgeon. We are well up the River now – really only a day from Chnngking- where the Widgeon is – but we have to stay at anchor down here as the river is so high & flooded that we can’t get through the rapids – we might be here for days!!-
Most interesting & impressive trip this has been from Hankow – and the magnificence of the scenery – in the gorges and rapids far exceeds anything I read or was told. It really is simply marvellous- the river is very turbulent – full of whirlpools etc etc. All dark brown muddy colour – & in the gorges the mountains rise up to about 3000 feet – right along side – & the colouring is so beautiful- The pity is that I shall only see this all once more- when I come home – because it is all below my beat- If you ever get hold of a map – my beat is between Chunking and Wanshien – & occasionally higher up than Chunking- It has been terribly hot all the way up the river -but here it is not so bad – as there had been such masses of rain.
I have been ashore at one or 2 places- Hankow was very Englishised- a large sort of Country Club there – & I watched a polo match. I’ve met several Gunboats & heard all the news- a terribly unsettled country this – & all these passenger ships are continually being fired on with rifle fire – by odd soldiers.- We have been lucky so far – only a few stray bullets- Apparently it’s our job out here to endeavour to stop this sort of thing & write threatening letters to the local Chinese Generals – but it still goes on – And our Foreign office are loath for us to go along fire back – but I can see a balloon going up one day-! I am feeling quite fit again now – having had a wee bit of exercise now and again-
Hope you’re all very fit at home- expect you are away at Seaview or some place. Don’t forget to put “Via Siberia” on your letters – they get here about a fortnight sooner-.
My best love to you all
from your ever loving son
Paul
Presumably the Wahine
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/page/troop-ship-wahine-wrecked-en-route-korean-war
Number 8: “Fung Tu” means “Wind and soil”.
http://www.vablonsky.com/the-10-coolest-non-english-restaurant-names-in-new-york-city/
Wanhsien incident for which Paul was mentioned in despatches
http://www.naval-history.net/WW1xMemoir-Wanhsein.htm
