Chap. XII. NATURAL PRODUCTIONS OF COUNTRY. 259 



the crowd still continued, and the play went on. 

 Long after I left them, and even when I retired 

 for the night, I could hear, every now and then, 

 borne on the air the sounds of their rude music, 

 and the shouts of applause from a good-humoured 

 multitude. 



The natural productions of this part of China 

 now claim a share of our attention. Much of the 

 level land among the hills in this part of the 

 coimtry, being considerably higher than the great 

 Mngpo plain, is adapted to the growth of other 

 crops than rice. The soil in these valleys is a 

 light rich loam, and is in a state of high cultiva- 

 tion ; indeed, I never witnessed fields so much like 

 gardens as these are. The staple summer crops 

 are those which yield textile fibres, such as those 

 I saw in the fair already described. A plant well 

 known by the name of jute in India — a species of 

 Oorchorus — which has been largely exported to 

 Europe of late years from India, is grown here to 

 a very large extent. In China this fibre is used 

 in the manufacture of sacks and bags for holding- 

 rice and other grains. A gigantic species of hemp 

 (Cannabis) growing from ten to fifteen feet in 

 height, is also a staple summer crop. This is 

 chiefly used in making ropes and string of various 

 sizes, such articles being in great demand for 

 tracking the boats up rivers, and in the canals of 

 the country. Everyone has heard of China grass- 

 cloth, — that beautiful fabric made in the Canton 

 province, and largely exported to Europe and 



T 



