FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



the masses of rock that projected sharp shadows in the hot glare 

 of an afternoon sun, the dale we were threading seemed almost 

 a defile, over the glassy Boor of which stately moving cloud 

 shapes slowly travelled. The passage of the river was easily 

 effected on a bamboo raft ; after which we gradually left the 

 pleasing scenery, which lost nothing from the approach of 

 evening. Before the stage's end our eyes were arrested by a 



On the Banks of the Siao-kiang, or Yang-pi. 



til^'^ 



limestone cliff rising to a height of 260 feet. The splintered 



points upon its brow resembled the florets on a crown, and round 



them a few saplings lifted their slender, almost aerial foliage. 



To a ledge in mid-face, and actually sustained by iron rivets, 



clung a little three-storeyed pagoda, Khou-an-yn-Miao, the house 



of the goddess Khou-an-yn. It was a structure of grey roof 



upon lighter walls, with broad black bands on which were traced 



some large white characters. The prickly pear above and yellow 



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