Lao-tse, the Sage 159 



1883, the time occupied by overland courier was, from 

 Ichang five days, and from Hankow fourteen days. The new 

 Customs couriers are half as long again on the journey, owing, 

 so say the foreign Customs' officials, to the increase in the 

 mail matter. 



The couriers make the whole journey on foot over the 

 goat-paths of the intervenmg mountains. They are necessarily 

 men of wonderful endurance ; they will do forty miles a day 

 over rough ground for days together, going at a sort of jog- 

 trot all the way. Between Ichang and Shanghai the mails 

 are, of course, carried by the foreign steamers. 



Several ferries cross the river at Chung-king, occupying 

 half an hour or one hour for the half-mile transit, according 

 to the strength of the current. The principal ferry lands are 

 at the foot of the paved path which leads over the mountains 

 to the adjoining province of Kwei-chow and to Kwei-yang 

 Fu, its capital, distant twelve days' journey, each of ninety 

 li, say twenty-five miles. The road crosses the steep range 

 of hUls, 1200 feet high, which faces Chung-king ; and thence 

 runs through a continuously mountainous country. Being a 

 main artery of the empire, the road is some five feet wide, 

 and evenly paved with stone flags. A steady ascent, partly 

 by long staircases, leads to a spot where the road forks, a 

 side path taking one up one of the peaks, between which the 

 main highway passes. This, the left peak, is finely wooded, 

 and on it are scattered the temples and pavilions known as 

 " Lao-chiin Tung," or The Cave of the Sage Lao-tse. On 

 the other and loftier peak stands a pagoda — p'u-ing, or 

 supplementing, the Feng-shui of Chung-king — from which is 

 a splendid view over the steep mountainous country which 

 embraces the city on this side, 



Lao Chiin, or, as he is commonly designated, Laotse 

 (the old philosopher), was the reputed author of the 



