176 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



the Niu-tou shan is difficult, and in many places dangerous. 

 Here and there steps have been cut in the hard rock to assist 

 the traveller, but in the main the road is strewn with loose 

 stones and boulders — vile to walk on or over. 



We were unfortunate in the matter of weather, for it again 

 rained as we continued our journey. Following the torrent 

 through a narrow ravine for 5 li we reached Erh-tao chiao, 

 where the torrent connects with a very considerable stream 

 which flows from the Pan-Ian shan. The united waters form a 

 river which, after traversing very wild country, joins with the 

 Min near the foot of the Niangtsze-hng on the Wench'uan 

 Hsien side of the pass. Turning sharply to the left at Erh- 

 tao chiao we ascended the stream, which is called Pi-tao Ho, 

 and soon crossed over by a wooden semi-cantilever bridge to 

 the left bank. From this point the next 25 li to Wu-lung-kuan 

 is easy, going through a narrow valley where occasional houses 

 occur and a certain amount of cultivation obtains. Above 

 Wu-lung-kuan the road becomes increasingly difficult, and in 

 many places is execrable. The river is joined by numerous 

 lateral torrents, some of large size, and as the valley narrows 

 into a ravine becomes an untamable, roaring torrent. The 

 scenery, such as the mists permitted of our seeing, is savage 

 and grand. Here and there perpendicular cliffs of limestone 

 cropped out through the mists, their summits covered with 

 Pine trees. We crossed and re-crossed the torrent many times, 

 and after covering 65 li reached Ta-ngai-tung, which was our 

 destination for the day. This hamlet, alt. 7600 feet, consists 

 of one large hostel, which was in moderately good repair, and is 

 completely surrounded by steep mountains heavily clad with 

 mixed shrubs and small trees, the upper parts being covered 

 with forests of Conifers. The flora generally is very similar 

 to that of the Niu-tou shan, though scarcely as rich. All the 

 Conifers except Silver Fir are present, though Larch only puts 

 in its first appearance near the hostel. At Erh-tao chiao 

 I photographed a magnificent Juniper tree, 75 feet tall, 23 

 feet in girth, with graceful pendent branches, and a Black 

 Pine which retains its cones over many years. (It proved to 

 be a new species, and has been named Pinus Wilsonii). This 

 Pine is common on the cliffs, but White Pine (P. Armandi) 



