FEI-YUEH-LING PASS 125 



afternoon, and I was heartily glad wlien a small place was 

 reached, twenty-five li from Ni-ton, where we could sleep. 



June 30. — A start bemg made at 6 a.m., Ni-tou 

 was reached at noon. Here the owner of the mules 

 reported that the animals wanted shoeing, but, after 

 a reasonable time had been allowed, they were not 

 forthcoming. Truly the Chinese are a most vexatious 

 people to deal with. All these little troubles arose 

 through my not having the soldiers with me, but I 

 certainly had expected them to have met me before 

 this. There was nothing for it but to proceed on 

 foot, and be thankful that I had at least some coolies 

 to carry my baggage. I reached a small place ten li 

 beyond San-chuo-ping at 4 p.m., and stopped there for 

 the night, as there were no houses on the road between 

 this and Hua-ling-ping, which was too far off to be 

 reached. 



July 1. — Started at 6 a.m. The road was ascend- 

 ing now as the Fei-yueh-ling Pass was being approached. 

 This is at an elevation of 9,020 feet, and the ascent is- 

 hard work, the roads as usual being very bad. The 

 principal trees are pines mingled with other evergreens,, 

 and in the open spaces several species of Hydrangea are 

 seen. Hio-her up rhododendrons and azaleas flourish,, 

 some of the former being still in bloom, one being con- 

 spicuous from the fine deep carmine colour of its flower. 



