YANG-TZE RIVER 145 



attention of the traveller and convince him 

 that China is not so thickly populated as 

 represented by some v>Titers on the subject. 

 He will see plains of the width of several 

 miles and a soil of unequalled productive 

 capacity producing nothing- but reeds and 

 grass, but which could be made to produce 

 Indian corn and rice in quantities sufficient 

 to feed the population of a small nation. 

 Here on these uncultivated plains valuable 

 crops could be produced and centuries of 

 the rich deposits of the great river have 

 fertilized the soil for several feet. Year 

 after year these plains could be cultivated 

 with the aid of very little nature and yet 

 they are utilized for grazing shaggy looking 

 ponies and cattle of the most ancient 

 pedigree and appearance. The reeds grow 

 from 15 to 20 feet high and are larger than 

 a man's thumb. When ripe they are cut 

 for fuel and are often used to build small 

 huts which are frequently seen dotting the 

 plains from the deck of a steamer. 



The valley is the feeding ground for wild 

 fowl during the fall and winter months. 

 The river and lakes and valley between 

 Wuhu and Hankow appear as the favorite 



