FLOWER PAGODA. 305 



some distance from the river, I passed the Flower 

 pagoda, the only object of interest before reaching the 

 sea. It consists of the usual nine-storeyed tower, 

 octagonal, and tapering to a height of 170 feet, ending 

 in a pointed roof ; it has a large opening on every tier 

 and face, making a total of seventy- two kinds of door- 

 ways. The entire pagoda is overgrown with creepers, 

 ferns, and even small trees, forming a most picturesque 

 object against the blue sky. 



On the day after my arrival at Hong-Kong, I found 

 the French steamer, "Volga," ready to receive pas- 

 sengers for Japan, so I bade farewell to China and 

 embarked in the afternoon of a magnificent day. 

 There were few fellow-travellers, but About's Le 

 Fellah falling into my hands, I enjoyed a few days' 

 pleasant reading, — it is a clever book, and his descrip- 

 tions are very graphic. Of the Delta of Egypt he 

 speaks as " Un eventail ferme i^ar un houton de 

 diamant qui sappele le Caire," — rather a happy 

 illustration. 



On the second day we passed through the Straits of 

 Formosa; and on the third, somewhat to the north of 

 Foo-Chow, the steamer left the coast to run across to 

 Japan. Here the Pacific, when half way to our 

 destination, sadly belied its name : the Loo-choo 



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