Cuar. XX.] BRIDGE OF FOO-CHOW-FOO. 369 
for China; and, viewing the scenery as a whole— 
the beautiful river, winding its way between moun- 
tains, its islands, its temples, its villages and 
fortresses — I think, although not the richest, it 
is the most romantic and beautiful part of the 
country which has come under my observation. 
The city and suburbs of Foo-chow-foo stand in 
an opening amongst the hills, about twenty miles 
from the mouth of the Min. The river runs 
through the suburbs, which are connected by the 
celebrated bridge called the Wan-show, or “myriads 
of ages,” which was always said to consist of one 
hundred arches. It is not an arched bridge at all ; 
but is nevertheless a wonderful structure, being 
about two thousand feet in length, and having fifty 
strong pillars of stone, with large slabs of granite 
reaching from the one to the other, and forming 
the top of the bridge. During the rains the river 
rushes through these divisions with awful rapidity ; 
and as the bridge has evidently stood for many 
ages, it is a proof of the substantial manner in 
which it was originally built. 
Leaying the ship at the mouth of the Min, Mr. 
Shaw, Captain Freeman, and myself started in a 
native boat to go up to the city. When we were 
getting into the boat, our old friend the pilot, who 
by this time had become quite at home amongst us, 
came and begged us to give him a passage as far 
up as the first town we were to pass on our way. 
We inquired why he did not go back again to 
his fishing at the White Dog island. His reply 
BB 
