358 Journal of Travel and Auitural History 



base. Above were dense woods rising high among the mists that 

 hung about the summits. The atmosphere turned chilly, and we 

 soon lost sight of the sun, the Scotch mist turning into rain 

 as we ascended, and we entered a ravine in which a well-repaired 

 paved pathway of rather steep gradient led through " the groves 

 of the pleasant mists " on " the mountain of the golden lake," the 

 said lake being a mysteriously deep tarn among these hills. The 

 blending of the sub-tropical vegetation with the foliage of trees, 

 due to increased elevation, presented us with varied yet exquisite 

 forest scenery. Among the trees flitted the Ying-Ko or ring parro- 

 quets (Palseornis Rosa), the sole Chinese representative of this 

 tribe, whilst little stripped squirrels (Sciurus tristriatus) leapt nimbly 

 from bough to bough, whilst the call of the pheasant and the tap- 

 ping of the woodpecker (Picus chloris) would frequently be heard 

 mingled with the song of the Hwa-mei (Leucodioptron sinense), 

 which the Chinamen are so fond of domesticating for fighting 

 purposes as well as song. The timber trees were loaded and 

 entangled with numerous vines, bauhinias and other lianas, whilst 

 various orchids, ferns, lycopodiums, and pendent lichens orna- 

 mented the stems of fallen timber. 



Through occasional breaks in the dense foliage of the trees 

 we could see hanging woods and rocks towering far above us, with 

 here and there a summer-house or shrine, to which neat zig-zag 

 paths led in various directions. After reaching a level of about 

 1200 feet above the river, we found the monastery of Tek-Chime, 

 with its fine new temple and hospitable brotherhood. The superior 

 of the establishment received us with flowery Chinese compliments 

 and played the part of host most graciously. It appears that the 

 old temple had been burnt down by the rebels in 1S59, so that 

 they had been obliged to build a new one, the Hing-Wun-Tz, and 

 now they heard that the rebels were again approaching. They 

 shewed us an immense bell, just new from the foundry, of some 

 2000 catties weight ; they must have had great trouble to convey 

 it up these heights. The monks here are not allowed to eat flesh, 

 but are restricted to fish and vegetable food ; they gave us some 

 capital rice and mushrooms, the latter being novelties to us ; they 

 had many handsome and rare plants, cultivated with great care, 

 roses and chrysanthemums, of which the owners were very proud, 

 besides dwarfed trees, fantastically trained shrubs, with odd sports 

 and grafts, which Chinese amateurs take such pleasure in. 



We returned to our boat in the afternoon, and later in the even- 



