Miscellanies. 197 



square yards of level ground by terracing, no labor seems to have 

 been spared to redeem such spots for the purpose of rice cultivation. 

 In ascending the pass, we soon came to places where it was difficult 

 for our bearers to find a footing, and where they had consequently 

 to pick out their steps as they advanced. To assist themselves, 

 they gave the chair a swinging motion, with which they kept time 

 in raising their feet. This was far from agreeable, and the first im- 

 pression was that it was done merely to annoy, but we very soon 

 saw that the object was different. The highest point of the pass I 

 should conjecture to be about 1200 feet above the plain, and the 

 descent on the north side to be nearly equal to the ascent from the 

 south, say 1000 feet. At half past four we arrived at a rather ro- 

 mantic valley, which was to be our halting place for the day." 



"Nov. 12th. Got into our chairs at a quarter past six, A. M. 

 and proceeded along a narrow rugged dell towards Koeboe. Seve- 

 ral nice looking hamlets were seen on the way. The people were 

 engaged in reaping the rice, which seemed heavy, and well filled in 

 the ear. In several places I observed that they had taken the pains 

 to tie clumps of rice together for mutual support. Sugar cane is 

 bound in the same way, and for additional security, the outside 

 canes are mutually supported by diagonal leaves, which serve at the 

 same time to form them into a kind of fence. The leaves are not 

 tied up round the stalks as in Bengal ; the cane is slender, white, 

 hard, and by no means juicy or rich ; yet, abating the black fungous 

 powder, which is very prevalent, the surface is healthy, and close 

 growing in a remarkable degree. We arrived at Koeboe at eight 

 o'clock, and finding we could get water conveyance for part of the 

 way on which we were proceeding, we engaged a boat for that pur- 

 pose. After a hearty breakfast, we embarked at 10 A. M. amidst 

 crowds of people who covered the banks of the river at the ghat. 

 On inquiry, we found that the river on which we were proceeding 

 in a W.N.W. course, was the same which passed Nganke been, and 

 flowed to Tseuenchow foo. The boat was large, but light, and be- 

 ing flat bottomed, drew very little water. The stream was so shal- 

 low, that it was only by tracing the deepest part of the channel from 

 side to side of its bed, that we were able to advance at all. This 

 was done by poling ; in several places the stream was deepened by 

 throwing up little banks of sand so as to confine its course within a 

 channel merely wide enough for the boats to pass through. I esti- 

 mated the width from bank to bank at 200 yards, and should judge 



