THE GREAT LAKE. 393 



quented the groves, and large falcons hovered over our 

 heads. Here also I was much disappointed in not finding 

 hares, rabbits, or beasts of any kind. 



The next morning we hired a fast-sailing country boat, 

 and visited the sacred island of Tee-Tung-Ting-San, about 

 twenty miles distant, inhabited entirely by Buddhist priests. 

 Their temples are built on terraces formed along the sides 

 of the mountain, amidst groves of evergreens and orchards 

 of fruit trees ; the vine, orange, peach, and loquat being the 

 chief productions, always excepting the mulberry, which is 

 here tended and cultivated with the greatest care ; and 

 almost every individual in these districts, which extend for 

 more than two hundred miles, is an owner and propagator 

 of silk- worms. More raw and manufactured silk is made in 

 them than in the whole of Europe combined during the 

 year, and enormous quantities exported to Europe and 

 America. A total stillness seemed to pervade the island, 

 and everything appeared wrapped in profound repose, which 

 is in fact a leading feature in the Buddhist creed. 



Some priests whom we met, like ghosts gliding about in 

 their dingy white garments through their sacred groves, 

 were, however, very civil to us, and pointed out what they 

 considered best worth seeing in their temples, and the finest 

 prospects from the mountain. I sadly disturbed their tran- 

 quillity by shooting one of the large falcons which were 

 hovering over our heads, and which fell, with some force, on 

 the head of a sleepy minister of Buddha. The presence of 

 vast numbers of these birds was a sufficient reason to me for 

 the absence of all game ; indeed the only birds of any edible 

 kind that we saw were a few turtle doves, which are com- 

 mon everywhere in China. 



The priests regaled us with tea in the Chinese fashion, 

 without milk or sugar. A very old man, who asserted 

 that he was ninety-four years of age, expatiated much ou 



