176 



ME. A-CHANG. 



Chap. IX. 



which is a few miles further up the river and as 

 far as it is navigable for boats. We remained here 

 for the night, and made preparations for a land- 

 journey to the Snowy Yalley, which we determined 

 to take on the following day. Early next morning, 

 while breakfast was getting ready, we went to see 

 a pretty, small temple called the Sieu-Wang-Meou, 

 which the people told us was well worth visiting. 

 This temple is finely situated on a small hill, 

 having rich woods behind and the river winding 

 past in front, — but as a building it is chiefly re- 

 markable for a most elaborately carved stone altar 

 — the finest specimen of the kind which I have 

 met with in China. While engaged in examining 

 this curious work of Chinese art, a respectable- 

 looking old man came running breathless into the 

 temple and introduced himself as Mr. A-chang, 

 and told us he was a mandarin or small govern- 

 ment officer connected with the temple. A slight 

 glance at his features told us he was no common 

 man. He was most loquacious and particularly 

 civil and obliging ; he went all over the edifice 

 with us, explaining, or endeavouring to explain, 

 the elaborate carving of the altar and the various 

 rude pictures which covered the walls. Having a 

 long journey before us, we had little time to spare, 

 and were, therefore, obliged to take a hurried 

 leave of our obliging friend, who told us he would 

 pay us a visit at our boats before we started for 

 the Falls. We had just finished breakfast, when 

 to our surprise the old gentleman presented him- 



