82 VISIT TO NING-PO. [Cuar. VI. 
CHAP. VI. 
FIRST VISIT TO NING-PO.—THE BRIDGE OF BOATS.— CITY AND 
PAGODA.—MEDICAL MISSIONARY. — TEMPERATURE.— CHINESE 
MODE OF KEEPING THEMSELVES WARM.— CHARCOAL STOVES. 
—MY LODGINGS. — CHINESE GAMBLERS. — DESCRIPTION OF 
SHOPS. — SILKS AND EMBROIDERY. — JADE STONE. — COTTON 
PRINTING. — ROPE MAKING. — CURIOSITY SHOPS AND CON- 
TENTS. — “ FURNITURE STREET ” AND FURNITURE. — BANKING 
ARINS’ GARDENS VISITED AND DESCRIBED, — VIEW FROM 
NORTHERN HILLS.— AGRICULTURE. —NATIVE FLORA OF THESE 
HILLS. — GRAVES OF THE DEAD. — COFFINS EXPOSED. 
I vistrep Ning-po for the first time in the autumn 
of 1843. It is a large town, situated on the main 
land, nearly west from the Chusan group of islands, 
on the east coast of China. It stands about twelve 
miles from the sea, at the junction of two fine 
streams, which by their union form a noble river 
capable of being navigated by the larger vessels and 
junks. One of these branches runs from the west, 
and the other from the south, meeting at Ning-po; 
and over the latter the Chinese have constructed @ 
bridge of boats for the traffic with the suburbs on 
the opposite shore. This bridge is a most simple 
and ingenious contrivance, consisting of a number 
of large boats moored at equal distances across the 
