Chap. III. 



SCENERY. 



47 



which, the most charming views can be obtained. 

 One of these, and the finest, is near the east gate 

 of the city. It is approached by an avenue of 

 pine-trees, and a broad flight of stone steps leads 

 from the bottom of the hill to its summit, where 

 the temple stands. From the higher rooms of 

 this temple the visitor sees a wide extent of level 

 country, exceedingly fertile and well watered. 

 His eye follows the windings of the Ningpo river 

 for many miles in a westerly direction, until it is 

 lost amongst the distant hills. Canals, many of 

 which are broad and deep, intersect the country 

 in all directions, and afford not only a plentiful 

 supply of water for the irrigation of the rice-crops, 

 but bear on their surface thousands of boats of many 

 different sizes, all hurrying to and fro and carry- 

 ing on the commerce of the country. It is a 

 pretty sight to see the numerous white or brown 

 sails over the land, bending to the breeze, or 

 flapping about in a calm sunny morning. Look- 

 ing south and eastward, the eye rests upon the 

 wide plain of Ningpo, and in a clear day the high 

 mountains which bound its furthest sides are dis- 

 tinctly visible. 



It is difficult, where all is so beautiful, to fix 

 upon the prettiest spot, but that near the north 

 gate, where my boat lay, appeared to me the most 

 lovely of all. Between the north gate and the 

 hills there is a pretty lake, which is crossed by a 

 causeway with arches and alcoves. This cause- 

 way led from the city to a range of temples 



