Chap. XII. ASTONISHMENT OF THE PEOPLE. 



265 



in getting their baskets well filled. Altogether, 

 this scene, which I can only attempt to describe, 

 was a charming one, — a view of Chinese country- 

 life, telling plainly that the Chinese, however 

 strange they may sometimes appear, are, after all, 

 very much like ourselves. 



My road at length left the hill-side and little 

 stream, and took me across a wide and highly 

 cultivated valley, several miles in extent, and 

 surrounded on all sides by hills, except that one 

 through which the river winded in its course to 

 the eastward. I passed through two small towns 

 in this valley where the whole population seemed 

 to turn out to look at me. Everywhere I was 

 treated with the most marked politeness, and even 

 kindness, by the inhabitants. " Stop a little, sit 

 down, drink tea," was said to me by almost every 

 one whose door I passed. Sometimes I complied 

 with their wishes ; but more generally I simply 

 thanked them, and pushed onwards on my journey. 

 In the afternoon I arrived at the further end of 

 the valley and at the foot of a mountain pass. 

 As I gradually ascended this winding path, the 

 valley through which I had passed was entirely 

 shut out from my view. Nothing was now seen 

 but mountains, varying in height and form, — some 

 about 2000, and others little less than 4000 feet 

 above the level of the sea, — some formed of gentle 

 slopes, with here and there patches of cultivation, 

 — others steep and barren, where no cultivation 

 can ever be carried on, except that of brushwood. 



