adjoining large staterooms. From these in turn the water escapes into a 
beautiful artificial lake, planted with lotus-lilies arid full of fish ; its sides steep, 
and overhung with masses of yellow jessamine. In the centre of the lake 
stands a pretty T’ing-tzu, or summer-house, intended as a dining-room for 
visitors. The grounds are planted with flowering shrubs and stately trees; 
and the clear placid lake, its surface faithfully reflecting summer-house, trees, 
and wealth of golden flowers, presents an entrancing picture. In an adjoining 
compound, a second series of baths fed by another spring is devoted to the use 
of the common people. When first built this series was intended for 
K’ang-hsi’s queen and her court, whilst her lord and master disported himself 
in the beautiful grounds first described. The waters are slightly sulphurous in 
composition, and having, therefore, a very relaxing effect upon the system, are 
far-famed for their medicinal properties. The temperature of the water was 
found to be 108 Fahr., and entering the bath is a slow process, as it is 
necessary to accustom the body to the great heat gradually. So hot indeed is 
the water that bathers, after leaving it, can dry and dress themselves in a keen 
wintry wind, without suffering any inconvenience. From both series of baths 
the water, still quite warm, flows out eventually into small canals, covered in 
with matting, and is thus conducted over ground carefully cultivated, where 
rich crops of vegetables are raised. These—onions, and a special variety of 
garlic during the winter months—are grown in hollows, and are also covered 
with matting. There can be little doubt that the splendid crops obtained, as 
well as the wonderful display of jessamine-blossom round the lake, are largely 
due to the warmth of the water which permeates the soil. A large pool, just 
outside the grounds, must not be forgotten; here all the pigs in the neighbour- 
hood wallow, their snouts just showing above the surface. 
On February 8th, Clark tore himself reluctantly away from Lin-t’ung and 
started off for Shanghai, vié Ho-nan Fu and Hankow; and three or four 
days later Sowerby returned to Hsi-an Fu, and proceeded to investigate the 
fauna of the mountains to the south of that place. 
At the end of a fortnight, spent in the collection of mammals and birds, 
Sowerby received a telegram from Shanghai, and in accordance with its 
instructions started for Ho-nan Fu, from which place he would proceed by 
rail to Hankow, there to await Clark’s arrival. Leaving Hsi-an Fu, he 
marched to T’ung-kuan Hsien, a town situated close to the junction of the 
three provinces of Shensi, Shansi and Honan. The road, though exceedingly 
bad and marshy, is very interesting, running a few miles north of, and parallel 
to a chain of magnificent, and precipitous mountains. At Hua-yi Miao a 
42 
