Ch. IX.] THE EIYEE MIKT. 139 



extensive bare patches being not unfreq.uent, conspicuous 

 from the absence of herbage upon them, and glistening 

 with the moisture which trickled over them. These rocks 

 often sloped in smooth tables to the river's bank, and 

 in one spot assumed a remarkable form, known to the 

 Chinese as the Mandarin's leg. This is a block of stone 

 projecting from the smooth hillside in has relief, and in one 

 aspect bearing a singular resemblance to a gigantic hranan 

 leg and foot, placed obliquely, the toe touching the water as 

 though kicking it. It is said that at this spot the influence 

 of the salt water ceases. Near Pagoda Anchorage a light- 

 coloured rock juts out on the left bank, formed entirely of 

 soapstone. It descends sheer down into the river, the lower 

 part being soft and disintegrated, and mottled with yellow 

 and flesh-colour, and the general texture that of softish 

 sandstone, but with veins of a substance more resembling 

 the ornamental soapstone. Many ornaments, in the form 

 of pagodas, &c., are made of this stone, and are sold in the 

 neighbourhood at a very low price. 



At Kwan-tau a great many junks were anchored, and also 

 at Tin-tac ; and we passed many large pole-boats, as they 

 are termed, laden with spars attached to their outsides. 

 These " sticks," such as are used for large junks, are often 

 of very great size, and weigh sometimes no less than ten 

 tons, the mainmast of our own ship scarcely exceeding five. 



Chinese forts are numerous on the river's banks : from one 

 spot at least four were visible, consisting of stone embrasures, 

 with large guns, usually eight-inch, peeping through them, 

 their muzzles painted with red-lead, and protected from the 

 weather by a wooden frame. Some of these forts mounted 

 30 guns, others only about a dozen ; some were very con- 

 spicuous, others masked with herbage. A small island in 



