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Transcription
154
June 1854
Whampoa Reach
June 13th 14ths & 15th
During these three days we lay at our anchorage
in Whampoa Reach. I made but one lost-
optical excursion here, as I was allowed no
boat from the ship (on account of the hot weath-
ero) neither funds to engage the Chinese ....
I examined the muddy banks of the paddy-
fields which here compose the shores of the riv.-
-er. These fields are of great extent, and are
intersected by natural canals in all di-
rections, so that it is difficult for a stran-
ger to determine which is the main chan-
el. Junks passing through the narrowest
of these canals seem at a distance to
be sailing on the land. The water here
is fresh, and of a reddish or yellowish-
-brown color from the contained sediment
and other impurities. The tide rises and falls
in a vertical space of about four feet. On
the muddy shores I found Paludina, Cyrena
Melanice, a Solecurtus (dead) a Thelpusa,
a Sesarrea and two other Grapsid Crabs,
a Hereis and a Memertes. The existence of
the two worms here is probably to be
explained by the proximity of trackless
water, which is found not far down