1843.] CHINESE GARDENS. 23 



The scenery throughout the river is somewhat unin- 

 teresting, being much confined by the lofty trees which 

 intercept the view ; but the small cleared patches which 

 frequently present themselves, give promise of a rich 

 luxuriant soil elevated about fifteen feet above the ordi- 

 nary level of the stream. We first met with elevated 

 land at Siniavan, about nine miles direct from Kuching. 

 The Chinese appear to have made some progress here, in 

 their gardens, the plateau, on which their houses are 

 built, being above thirty feet above the level of the river, 

 to which it gradually descends. We observed the cus- 

 tomary products of tropical gardens, but upon a critical 

 examination of the soil, found it to consist of a great pre- 

 ponderance of clay, which in this climate, where torrents 

 of rain are succeeded by intense heat, causes the ground 

 to cake and become rent. The inhabitants endeavour to 

 overcome this by the introduction of wood ashes into the 

 pits which they make for their plants, and although they 

 have both loam and sand in the vicinity, do not appear to 

 understand the value of these materials for improving the 

 soil, nor are they disposed to be advised. 



At Toondung, which, by the sinuosities of the river, I 

 assume to be about twelve miles distant, we found the 

 stream perfectly clear, with a pebbly bottom, and enjoyed 

 the luxury of a cool bath without the apprehension of 

 being selected as a delicate meal by any epicurean alli- 

 gator. The narrowness of the river in this part, caused 

 the lofty trees on the banks to approach so nearly as 

 almost to complete an arch, and thus, shaded from the 

 sun's rays, kept the stream at the same temperature as 

 that in which it descended from the mountain ; it was 



