100 Memorandum of an Excursion to the Tea Hills. [Feb, 



in reaping the rice, which seemed heavy and well filled in the ear. In se- 

 veral places I observed that they had taken the pains to tie clumps of rice 

 stalk together for mutual support. Sugar-cane is bound in the same 

 way, and for additional security the outside canes are mutually sup- 

 ported 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, bating the black fungus powder, which is very pre- 

 valent, their surface is healthy, and close growing in a remarkable 

 degree. We arrived at Koe-Bo 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 purpose. After a hearty breakfast we em- 

 barked 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 

 we passed at Gan-Ke-Luyu, and flowed to Suen-chee-foo. The boat 

 was large, but light, and being flat-bottomed drew very little water. 

 The stream was so shallow 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 estimate the width from bank to bank at 200 yards, and 

 should judge from the height at which sugar is cultivated above the 

 level of the present surface, that the greatest depth in the rainy 

 season does not exceed 10 feet, Being entirely fed by mountain torrents 

 its rise must be often very sudden, but I did not observe any traces of de- 

 vastation in its course. Its name, Ghan-ke or " peaceful stream," is pro- 

 bably derived from this circumstance ; the valley on each side seemed 

 well cultivated, the banks being principally occupied by sugar-cane. 

 At every village the people poured as usual to see us out, vying with 

 each other in marks of civility and kindness. The day, however, be- 

 coming very hot, we took shelter from the sun under the roof of the 

 boat, to the disappointment of many who waded through the water to 

 gratify themselves with a sight of the strangers. Coming at last to a 

 high bank close to a populous town, they actually offered the boatman 

 400 cash if he would bring us to ; and on his refusal, the boys began 

 pelting the boat with clods and stones. On this Mr. Gutzlaff went 

 on deck to remonstrate, and Mr. Ryder to intimidate with his gun. 

 Betwixt both the effect was instantaneous, and the seniors of the crowd 

 apologised for the rude manner in which the boys had attempted to 

 enforce the gratification of their curiosity. We had been in vain all 



