Cuar. IV.] JOURNEY TO THE HILLS. 53 
when I set out: however, it was now too late; 
and I determined to put a bold face on the matter 
and proceed. I set out towards the hills, on one 
of which stands the Chimoo pagoda, which I was 
anxious to visit on my route, as I expected to get 
a good view of the country from its summit. 
Many acres of ground here, all along the shore, 
are used for evaporating sea water and forming 
salt, which is a great article of trade in China. <As 
the traveller proceeds inland, the ground, capable 
of cultivation, is covered with crops of sweet 
potato and earth-nut, which form the staple produc- 
tions of this part of the country in the autumnal 
months. Between the different fields, one often 
stumbles upon the graves of the natives, some- 
times finely ornamented with those half-circular 
erections, so common in the south of China, and at 
other times without any ornament whatever ; this of 
course depending upon the wealth of the relatives. 
The hills are like those near Amoy, rocky and 
barren, having here and there a few wild plants 
growing on the sides of the ravines; some of 
which, however, are very beautiful. The pa- 
goda, already mentioned, stands on the top of the 
highest hill, and affords an excellent landmark to 
the vessels on the coast. 
On my way towards the hills, I was Eeguenily 
surrounded by hundreds of the Chinese, and was 
evidently considered a great natural curiosity. 
The country, although barren, teems with inhabi- 
tants; indeed, I almost thought the very stones 
E 3 
