THE ANCIENT KINGDOM OF PA 95 



of miscellaneous shrubs. Unlike limestone country no bottom- 

 lands are formed, and cultivation is relegated to thehigher parts 

 of the ranges. Farmhouses are scattered here, there, and 

 everywhere, but the villages are all situated on the tops of the 

 mountains, most frequently on the divide of a ridge. 



Fourteen li from Hei-tou-k'an we passed through the 

 village of Tai-lu ch'ang, where market was in progress and 

 many pigs on sale. Thirty li from this place we passed Ting- 

 shan ch'ang, a village of considerable size, charmingly situated 

 on the neck of a ridge, backed by a Chaitzu and a fine cypress 

 grove. Chaitzu, of which frequent mention has been made, 

 are a feature of these parts. They are old forts, said to have 

 been mostly constructed during the great sectarian rebellion 

 of A.D. 1796-1803. A small official (Hsao-shoa-tang) resides 

 at Ting-shan ch'ang. In spite of its fine situation this village 

 was unusually filthy and was dominated with the strong 

 odours of a wine distillery. The usual crowd of loafers 

 followed us for some distance on quitting this village. 



In the late afternoon we arrived at Lung-peh ch'ang, 

 alt. 3000 feet, after travelling 74 li. We lodged in a rambling, 

 dilapidated inn, fairly clean, with rooms removed some little 

 distance from the street — the village sewer. Market not being 

 in progress the crowd of inquisitive idlers was relatively small. 



The flora was not particularly interesting, but we passed a 

 number of fine Camphor trees [Cinnamomum C amphora). The 

 crops, however, were rich and varied. Rice and sweet 

 potato preponderate, odd patches of cotton were noted 

 and also others of Indigo {Strohilanthes flaccidifolius). In the 

 afternoon coolies laden with salt passed us. This salt is pure 

 white and granular and comes from Nanpu Hsien. From our 

 lodging Ting-shan ch'ang was visible, 30 li distant and nearly 

 due east. The map shows a river flowing past this village, 

 but the only one we could get tidings of was 50 li from that 

 place. 



After a comfortable night's rest we continued our journey 

 through country similar to that of foregoing days, but less 

 well-wooded and more inclined to be arid, with broader 

 valleys more under cultivation. Our route followed the 

 boundary between Pa Chou and Yilung Hsien. We passed 



