104 Through the Yang-tse Gorges 



forced its way, makes a sharp rectangular turn, compelling 

 us to change our course from west to south. We are now 

 in latitude 30° 57', the highest northing since leaving 

 Ichang (latitude 10° 41'), and from here our general course 

 is south-west, Chung-king being in latitude 29° 33' 

 (Blakiston). The agricultural land here is formed of the 

 talus of sandstone hills, from the midst of which the 

 picturesque, vertical, flat-topped peaks still peep out. These 

 peaks rise from seven to fifteen hundred feet (and in the 

 distance higher), and are evidently the remnants of a once 

 solid range. They are of all sizes, from a few yards to 

 as many miles in width. On the steep slopes, which in 

 places almost reach to the summits, wherever the angle is 

 not more than 30°, grow wheat, barley, rape, beans, and 

 poppy; the former now in full ear, the latter in flower. 

 The poppy, which I now see cultivated for the first time, 

 is a solid-looking, substantial, dark-green plant, with 

 white, pink and white, and purple flowers, three to four feet 

 in height, springing from well earthed-up ridges, like celery. 

 The harvest is collected in April, by making a sharp 

 incision in the stem, below the capsules overnight, and 

 scraping off the white, escaped sap in the morning ; after 

 which it is pulled up, and the plant given to the pigs, and 

 its place is taken by maize or cotton. The valuable Tung, 

 or varnish-tree, from the seed of which is pressed the 

 famous Tung-you (tung varnish), also yields an important 

 article of trade in this flourishing city, the surrounding 

 mountains being covered in places with its dark-green 

 foliage. 



The " Feng-shui " of Wan is perfect. A distant range 

 protects it from the evil influences of the " Yin " (Darkness, 

 i.e. North). A curtain of lower hills on the opposite bank 

 screens it from the south, yet without hindering, by their 



