74 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



the Sapindus are used as soap. Celtis trees are common, 

 their smooth, pale-grey bark rendering them conspicuous. 

 On a ridge we noted many trees of the interesting " Button 

 tree " {Adina racemosa). These trees were 30 to 60 feet tall, 

 2 to 4 feet in girth, and the finest specimens of their kind I have 

 met with. The Chinese Pine {Pinus Massoniana) is general, 

 but by far the commonest tree of the day was the Cypress 

 {Cupressus funebris). 



The road proved a pleasant change ; instead of wild and 

 savage scenery, low rounded hills backed by steeper mountains, 

 all rather treeless, and for the most part cultivated, were the 

 order of the day. Here and there were a few outstanding 

 cliffs of limestone with an occasional temple crowning odd 

 crags. At Taning Hsien we secured a number of new coolies, 

 and these men described the country passed through in the 

 afternoon as Laolin (wilderness). This immensely amused my 

 Ichang men, who recommended these newcomers to try the 

 Sheng-neng-chia before speaking of " Laolin " ! 



The day was grilling hot, and all were fairly exhausted on 

 arrival at Lao-shih-che. Whether it was the heat or the after 

 effects of a day's holiday I could not determine, but I was 

 called upon to play " Doctor " to nearly half my followers. 

 The majority were suffering from stomach troubles, several 

 from filthy sores. Epsom salts, permanganate of potash, and 

 iodoform dressings soon improved the majority. 



The next day was gloriously fine, but scarcely so hot as 

 the previous day, or perhaps the slightly increased altitude 

 made it more bearable. The whole day we travelled nearly 

 due west through a narrow valley bounded by moderately 

 high parallel ranges. The road continues easy with occasional 

 ascents and descents. We were still on the fringe of the 

 Red Basin, but in the afternoon grey sandy soUs were most 

 in evidence. Rice is cultivated wherever sufficient water is 

 obtainable, and was scarcely ever out of our view. Maize is 

 the other principal crop, with various kinds of pulse and the 

 Irish potato. The sweet potato is cultivated here and there, 

 and Wood Oil trees are even more abundant than before. 

 Much oil is evidently produced in this region, and we noted 

 many oil-presses during the day. The parallel ranges are 



