The Russians desire to open the Songaree to commerce, but the Chinese prefer seclusion.  A month before my visit a party ascended the river to ascertain its resources.  A gentleman told me the Chinese used every means except actual force to hinder the progress of the steamer and prevent the explorers seeing much of the country.  Whenever any one went on shore the people crowded around in such numbers that nothing else could be seen.  Almost the whole result of the expedition was to ascertain that the river was navigable and its banks well peopled.

In the dim light of morning I saw some houses at the junction of the rivers, and learned they were formerly the quarters of a Manjour guard.  Until 1864 a military force, with two or three war junks, was kept at the mouth of the Songaree to prevent Russian boats ascending.  Mr. Maximowicz, the naturalist, endeavored in 1859 to explore the river as far as the mouth of the Nonni.  Though his passport was correct, the Manjour guard ordered him to stop, and when he insisted upon proceeding the Celestial raised his matchlock.  Maximowicz exhibited a rifle and revolver and forced a passage.

He was not molested until within forty miles of San-Sin, when the natives came out with flails, but prudently held aloof on seeing the firearms in the boat.  Finding he could not safely proceed, the gentleman turned about when only twenty-five miles below the city.

After passing the Songaree I found a flat country with wide prairies on either side of the river.  In the forest primeval the trees were dense and large, and where no trees grew the grass was luxuriant.  The banks were alluvial and evidently washed by the river during times of freshet.  There were many islands, but the windings of the river were more regular than farther down.  I saw no native villages and only two or three fishing stations.  Those acquainted with the river say its banks have fewer inhabitants there than in any other portion.

On the Russian shore there were only the villages established by government, but notwithstanding its lack of population, the country was beautiful.  With towns, plantations, and sugar-mills, it would greatly resemble the region between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.  I could perceive that the volume of the river was much diminished above its junction with the Songaree.

At long and rare intervals snags were visible, but not in the navigable channel.  We took soundings with a seven foot pole attached to a rope fastened to the rail of the boat.  A man threw the pole as if he were spearing fish, and watched the depth to which it descended.  The depth of water was shouted in a monotonous drawl. “Sheiste; sheiste polivinnay; sem; sem polivinnay;” and so on through the various quantities indicated.  I thought the manner more convenient than that in use on some of our western rivers.