‘ 
100 VIEW FROM THE NORTHERN HILLS. (Crar. VI. 
might hear the sound which it made. The old 
mandarin now led me round his house, and showed 
me all the curiosities which it contained, and of 
which he was a great collector. Old bronzes, 
carved woods, specimens of porcelain, and other 
articles of that kind, were arranged with great 
taste in several of the rooms. From the house we 
proceeded to the garden, but as it was winter, and 
the trees leafless, I could form but little idea of the 
rarity or beauty of the plants which it contained. 
I took my leave, after drinking some more tea, 
promising to visit the old man again whenever I 
returned to Ning-po. 
I visited also at this time several other Man- 
darins who had gardens, and from all of them L 
received the greatest civility. Some small articles 
_ which I brought out with me as presents were of 
the greatest use, not only in procuring me a civil 
reception, but also in enabling me to get plants or 
cuttings of rare species which were only found in 
the gardens of the rich, and which, of course, were 
not for sale. 
The level plain on which the city of Ning-po is 
built is at least thirty miles across, surrounded on 
all sides by a circle of hills, but opening on the east 
to the sea, where the town of Chinhae stands, and 
forms, as it were, the sea-port town of Ning-po. 
The view from the hills is very’ fine —the broad 
extensive plain forming, as it were, a vast amphi- 
theatre, traversed by beautiful winding rivers and 
by canals in all directions; thus enabling the 
