EASTERN SZECHUAN 83 



long rests into the bargain. On leaving P'ao-tsze we made a 

 short, steep ascent, and then descended by an easy road lead- 

 ing over and among sandstone bluffs. Twenty-five li on we 

 reached the bed of a small stream and followed it to its union 

 with a large, clear-water stream flowing down from the north- 

 ward. This stream flows past Nan-pa ch'ang and is navigable 

 for small boats down to Tunghsiang Hsien and up-stream some 

 290 li to Tu-li-kou. Near our destination we passed many 

 coolies carrying down bright anthracite coal. This comes from 

 Fu-che-kou, some 50 li away, and the men receive 200 cash 

 per picul (100 catties) for carrying it down. We also noted 

 iron in flat slabs, which comes from Tung-che-kou, 25 li distant. 



Pine was again the common tree, but C3rpress also was 

 fairly common. The sandstone is evidently more favourable 

 to the Pine than to the Cjrpress. We saw two or three trees of 

 the rare " Hung-tou-shu " {Ormosia Hosiei). The wood of 

 this tree is highly valued and so heavy that it sinks in water. 

 Wood Oil trees continued abundant, and around Nan-pa ch'ang 

 plantations of Mulberry were being made. Evidently seri- 

 culture is about to be attempted in this district. 



Nan-pa ch'ang, alt. 1550 feet, is a village of considerable 

 size, and is built on a flat bordering the stream. Formerly it 

 was one of the most important centres of the opium trade 

 in Szechuan, and its product was of very superior quality. 

 The opium trade is now completely stopped, and this place 

 has suffered tremendously in consequence. It also boasts a 

 trade in general merchandise, supplying a large area of country 

 to the northward. But opium was its real source of wealth, 

 and with the disappearance of the opium traffic all trade has 

 declined. To the northward a lot of tea is grown and the 

 leading people of Nan-pa ch'ang are endeavouring to divert 

 this trade from its present headquarters, Taiping Hsien, to 

 their own village. 



Around Nan-pa ch'ang there are a few Mantzu caves. 

 Everything was very quiet in the village and we attracted 

 little or no attention. We saw a couple of uniformed police, 

 odd street lamps, and other signs of modern ideas. Leaving 

 this village the next morning at 7 a.m., in four small boats, we 

 dropped down the beautiful clear-water stream, and reached 



