IMPORTS 17 



these consist laro-ely of rhubarb, of which a great 

 quantity goes to Europe, and the remainder of elk 

 horns, dried centipedes, pey-mou, and Tclwng-Tsiio. 

 All these latter are used exclusively by the Chinese, 

 and the last-named is a most curious plant, growing at 

 a great elevation in the eastern part of Tibet. It has a 

 single spathe-shaped leaf about three inches long, and 

 the root bears the most extraordinary resemblance to a 

 caterpillar, all the segments, legs, eyes, &c. being faith- 

 fully represented. 



Large quantities of raw silk also pass through on 

 the wa}- to Shanghai, and a considerable quantity of 

 musk. 



There is a large import trade of Manchester goods^ 

 cotton, long-cloth, figured prints, and velveteen. These 

 arrive in bulky bales, and are here examined by the 

 "Custom House officials. They are then made up in 

 smaller packages more suitable for the up-country 

 transport. Quicksilver is also imported in heavy iron 

 bottles for use in the silver mines of Yunnan. There 

 is a fine new China merchants' ' go-down ' where all 

 these articles may be seen. 



The time of arrival of a steamer from Hankow is, in 

 the winter and spring, when the river is low, very un- 

 certain, the navigation being difficult owing to the 

 channels constantly changing, more particularly at 



c 



