He offered to arrange everything for me, and by 6 o'clock in the morning he had engaged a boat, had selected a captain (_laoban_), and a picked crew of four young men, who undertook to land me in Chungking in fifteen days, and had given them all necessary instructions for my journey.

All was to be ready for a start the same evening.
During the course of the morning the written agreement was brought me by the laoban, drawn up in Chinese and duly signed, of which a Chinese clerk made me the following translation into English.

I transcribe it literally:-- Yang Hsing Chung (the laoban) hereby contracts to convey Dr.M.to Chungking on the following conditions:-- 1.

The passage-money agreed upon is 28,000 cash (_L2 16s._), which includes all charges.
2.

If Chungking is reached in twelve days, Dr.M.will give the master 32,500 cash instead; if in thirteen days 31,000, and if in fifteen days 28,000.
3.