adjoining large staterooms. From these in turn the water escapes into a 

 beautiful artificial lake, planted with lotus-lilies and 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 io8 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, via 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 



