IN QUEST OF FLOWERS 35 



trees, Catalpa ovata is common on the plateaux and an 

 interesting small-leaved Poplar occurs around farmhouses, but 

 is rare. 



Hsiang-t'an being in water communication with the Yang- 

 tsze boasts quite a considerable trade. Medicines are the 

 principal export. Rifle-stocks, roughly shaped out of Walnut 

 wood, are exported from this neighbourhood to Hangyang 

 in increasing quantities annually. They are worth locally 300 

 cash (about 6d.) each. The village is situated on the left bank 

 of the river, and possesses an Opium Likin and a Viceroy's 

 Bank. Pigs seem more in evidence than human beings, as 

 judged from the four visits I have paid the place in different 

 years. Being only 300 feet above Ichang, Hsiang-t'an enjoys 

 a hot, dry climate. 



Leaving Hsiang-t'an we immediately crossed the river by 

 ferry and ascended a narrow valley, which soon becomes a 

 ravine and finally a wild, entrancing gorge. At the head of 

 this gorge we took a small mountain-path which entailed a 

 severe climb from the river-bed to the tops of the surrounding 

 mountains. In this ascent the Musk Rose was a wonderful 

 sight, and Loropetalum chinense abundant but out of flower. 

 Once on top of the mountains an undulating path leads to Peh- 

 yang-tsai, where we found lodgings in a new and fairly clean 

 farmhouse. 



In the gorge I gathered Rehmannia Henryi, a herb less than 

 I foot tall, with large, white, foxglove-like flowers. Here- 

 abouts the root-bark of Lady Banks's rose is collected, and 

 after being dried is pressed into bales for export to Shasi. 

 This bark is used for dyeing and strengthening fish-nets, and it 

 is claimed that it renders the net invisible to fish. In the 

 vaUey Kcelreuteria bipinnata occurs, but is rare ; the flora of 

 the ravine generally is similar to that of the San-yu-tung glen. 



The mountains are clad with Oak (largely scrub), Pinus 

 Massoniana, and Cypress. A few Keteleeria trees occur and 

 also Liquidamhar formosana. Populus Silvestrii, with its light 

 grey bark, is a very common tree hereabouts. Wood Oil trees 

 were a wonderful sight and most abundant. In the ravine 

 they were in full leaf, and the fruits were swelling, but from 1500 

 feet to 3000 feet they were leafless and covered with flowers. 



