WHERE BEST BLACK TEAS ABE FOUND. 43 



Du Halde* thus speaks of these mountains: — 

 " The priests, the better to compass their design 

 of making this mountain pass for the abode of the 

 immortal beings, have conveyed barks, chariots, 

 and other things of the same kind, into the clefts 

 of the steep rocks all along the sides of a rivulet 

 that runs between ; insomuch, that these fantastical 

 ornaments are looked upon by the stupid vulgar 

 as a real prodigy, believing it impossible that they 

 could be raised to such inaccessible places, but by 

 a power more than human." 



The annexed plate, engraved from a Chinese 

 drawing, portrays some of the geological and 

 picturesque features of these rocks ; while the im- 

 press of gigantic hands exhibits some of the devices 

 here alluded to. 



The Chinese manuscript continues thus: — "In 

 the surrounding country, extending twenty or 

 thirty ly, there is a range of mountains which en- 

 compass and shelter those of Yu-ye. The names 

 of the places are, Csao Tuon, Hoang Pe, Chy Yang, 

 Kung Kuon, Sin Cheu, Tu Pa, Chy She, &c. In 

 each of these, tea sheds or roasting houses are 

 erected, and shrubs planted. These mountains 

 are also of the same nature as those of Yu-ye, 

 and the tea is prepared in the best manner. It 

 is fragrant in smell, and sweet in flavour. This 

 tea is called Puon Shan tea, or Mid-hill tea, or 



* 



VoL i. page 10., translation. 



