FEI-YUHH-LING PASS 125 
afternoon, and I was heartily glad when a small place was. 
reached, twenty-five li from Ni-tou, where we could sleep. 
June 30.—A start being made at 6 a.m., Ni-tou 
was reached at noon. Here the owner of the mules 
reported that the animals wanted shoeing, but, after 
a reasonable time had been allowed, they were not 
forthcoming. Truly the Chinese are a most vexatious. 
people to deal with. All these little troubles arose 
through my not having the soldiers with me, but I 
certainly had expected them to have met me before 
this. There was nothing for it but to proceed on 
foot, and be thankful that I had at least some coolies 
to carry my baggage. I reached a small place ten li 
beyond San-chuo-ping at 4 P.M., and stopped there for 
the night, as there were no houses on the road between 
this and Hua-ling-ping, which was too far off to be 
reached. 
July 1.—Started at 6 a.m. The road was ascend- 
ing now as the Fei-yueh-ling Pass was being approached. 
This is at an elevation of 9,020 feet, and the ascent is 
hard work, the roads as usual being very bad. The 
principal trees are pines mingled with other evergreens, 
and in the open spaces several species of Hydrangea are 
seen. Higher up rhododendrons and azaleas flourish, 
some of the former being still in bloom, one being con- 
spicuous from the fine deep carmine colour of its flower. 
