SACRED OMEI SHAN 225 



ridge, 6100 feet above sea-level, a magnificent view presented 

 itself. Above towered gigantic limestone cliffs nearly a mile 

 high ; below spread valleys and plains filled with a dense, 

 fleecy cumulus, through which the peaks of mountains peered 

 like rocky islands from the ocean's bed ; to the westward 

 the mighty snowclad ranges of the Thibetan border, 80 miles 

 distant as the crow flies, presented a magnificent panorama 

 stretching northward and southward as far as the eye could 

 range. The contrast between the floral zones was equally 

 startling and impressive. Below, until lost in the clouds, was a 

 mass of rich, sombre, green vegetation ; above were autumnal 

 tints of every hue, from pale yellow to the richest shades of 

 crimson, relieved by clumps of dark green Silver Fir. The 

 whole scene was bathed in sunlight, a gentle zephyr stirred the 

 air, and gorgeous butterflies flitted here and there seemingly 

 unconscious of winter's near approach. The stillness and quiet 

 was most solemn, and was broken only by the warbling of an 

 occasional songster in some adjacent tree or bush. It was 

 indeed a never-to-be-forgotten scene ! 



At 6200 feet the Cunninghamia gives up the fight, having 

 struggled nobly until reduced to the dimensions of an insignifi- 

 cant shrub. A Silver Fir {Abies Delavayi) next assumes the 

 sway, and right royally does it deserve the sceptre, for no more 

 handsome Conifer exists in all the Far East ; its large, erect, 

 symmetrical cones are violet-black in colour and are usually 

 borne in greatest profusion on the topmost branches. The 

 temples on the higher parts of the mountain are constructed 

 almost entirely of the timber of this tree. It is first met 

 with on Mount Omei, at 6000 feet, at which altitude it is of no 

 great size and unattractive in appearance ; at 6500 feet it is a 

 handsome tree. It is, however, between 8500 and 10,000 feet 

 that this Silver Fir reaches its maximum size. In this belt 

 hundreds of trees 80 to 100 feet tall, with a girth of 10 to 13 

 feet, are to be found. Hemlock Spruce {Tsuga yunnanensis) 

 occurs sparingly, but always in the form of large and shapely 

 trees. An occasional Yew tree {Taxus cuspidata, var. chinensis) 

 and, on the summit, dwarf Juniper (/. squamata) complete 

 the list of Conifers growing on the higher parts of this moun- 

 tain. The unspeakably magnificent autumnal tints already 

 VOL. I. — 15 



