352 Journal of Travel and Natural History 



hollowed by the waters many feet above us, testifying to the effects 

 of the furious summer freshets, known and dreaded even at Can- 

 ton under the name of the " Western floods," 



There are narrow paths cut along ledges on the face of the cliffs 

 to enable the crews to tow their vessels against the strong eddies 

 and currents in the pass. Along them are here and there little 

 shrines placed to record the loss by wreck or flood of some hap- 

 less mariner. The place is romantic in the extreme, and naturally 

 the imaginative Chinese people it with fabulous monsters as well 

 as with piratical bandits, who are, perhaps, not so fabulous. It 

 took us two hours to pass through this rocky chasm, four miles in 

 length. The western extremity is here marked by a small pagoda, 

 on a conical peak 300 feet above the sea. 



The sun seemed to shine brighter when we had left this dismal 

 pass of Shiu-Hing-Hup, and at our exit was disclosed a cheerful 

 view of the extensive valley of Shao-K'ing, bounded by a fine am- 

 phitheatre of mountains, with no less than seven pagodas of various 

 sizes in sight at once. 



What the origin or meaning of these many-storeyed monuments 

 may be no one seems to know. They are sometimes accounted 

 for by the Chinese as symbolical of the all-pervading Fung-Shuei, 

 a superstitious genius which animates the cardinal points, hills, 

 water, and weather, including the general prosperity of the neigh- 

 bourhood. 



A lofty pagoda on a high hill is supposed to bring good luck 

 and advancement to all who dwell within its sight and influence. 

 Although Shao-K'ing boasts of so many of them, I am afraid their 

 influence has greatly diminished. When a merchant has com- 

 pleted a great speculation with success, or when his argosies have 

 returned laden with wealth, he sometimes erects one of these follies 

 to commemorate the event. 



Below the suburbs of Shao-K'ing extensive fisheries were passed, 

 with large dip nets, bag and stake nets. These nets are in the 

 river close to the banks. Beyond these, about six miles above the 

 Antelope Pass, begin the suburbs of the town, which we reached 

 at five in the evening. These suburbs are built on tall piles similar 

 to those at Sy-nam, and boast of two remarkably handsome and 

 antient pagodas, both of which have numerous shrubs and creepers 

 growing out of them, and are generally moss- and grass-grown. 

 The town itself lies at a little distance back, and is protected by a 

 high solid embankment against all fear of inundation. Irrigation 

 is provided for by means of well-constructed culverts and sluices. 



