10 FISHERMEN 



beautiful variety of begonia is found, wliicli lias white 

 flowers with yellow centres. This grows principally 

 in a bifurcation of the glen, called by the Europeans 

 the Goat Glen. Maidenhair fern grows luxuriantly in 

 the soft sandstone, and the Chinese cut large slabs, some 

 of considerable size and weight, with the ferns attached, 

 for sale to the Europeans at Ichang, from whence they 

 find their way to the ports all down the river. Varieties 

 of Daphne and Herb Paris are also found, and, on the 

 hills surrounding, two species of persimmons (Diospyros 

 virginiana and D. kaki) are grown in large quantities 

 and exported. The w^hole place, and especially the 

 Goat Glen, is very rich in vegetation, and Dr. A. Henry, 

 of the Imperial Maritime Customs, a celebrated botanist, 

 has found many new species here. 



A stream of remarkably clear water having many 

 tributary branches runs into the river from the valley, 

 and fishermen may be seen using the casting-net with 

 great skill near the mouth. Further up, where the 

 water is shallower, they capture fish by the method 

 known in this country as ' tickling.' Water ouzels are 

 common, and high up the stream among the precipices 

 I saw a large species of grey kingfisher which nests in 

 holes in the clifis. It is, however, by no means common, 

 and I failed to procure a specimen. A few monkeys 

 are to be seen, but they appeared to be very shy. 



