THE DOME 26 



On the other side of the river, at the village of 

 Annan-miao, the Europeans have a small cenieter}-, 

 Miiere they have great difficulty in preventing the 

 Chinese from desecrating the graves. During my stay 

 I was present at the funeral of a young missionary who 

 had died of dysentery at Sha-shih. 



An interesting trip may be made from Icliang to a 

 hill knoMni to Europeans as ' The Dome.' It is situated 

 some little distance inland on the right bank of the 

 river below the town, from which it may be seen on 

 clear days, the top of the hill having a dome-like ap- 

 pearance, whence its name. It is approached by a very 

 picturesque valley, which is called the Monastery 

 VaUey, in which there is a temple and cave, called 

 LunCT-wounof-tuno;, on the side of a hill. In the cave is 

 a lake which is held in great veneration by the Chinese, 

 and which has no visible inlet or outlet. Europeans 

 are not allowed to thoroughly explore it, and it is pro- 

 bable that it is some enlargement of a subterranean 

 river, which are not uncommon in the district. 



In the month of September one is often surprised 

 to see thousands of tiny lighted lamps floating down on 

 the surface of the river. They sometimes extend for 

 miles, and are started at some little distance above the 

 Chinese city. They are offerings to the deity for the 

 souls of those who have lost their lives by droMming in 



