266 



TEMPLE OF TSAN-TSING. 



Chap. XII. 



which the most barren mountains generally fur- 

 nish. The Chinese pine and Japan cedar were 

 almost the only trees of any size which I observed 

 as I passed along. A little higher up I came to 

 fine groves of the bamboo — the famous maou-chok^ 

 already noticed — the finest variety of bamboo in 

 China, and always found growing in the vicinity 

 of Buddhist temples. 



In a small valley amongst these mountains, 

 some 2000 feet high, the temple of Tsan-tsing 

 was at last seen peeping out from amongst the 

 trees. The building in itself is of a much less 

 imposing character than others I have seen in this 

 province and in Fokien ; but, like all others of its 

 kind, it is pleasantly situated in the midst of the 

 most romantic scenery. In addition to the pines 

 and bamboos already noticed, were several species 

 of oaks and chesnuts, the former producing good- 

 sized timber. But the finest tree of all, and quite 

 new to me, was a beautiful species of cedar or 

 larch ; which I observe Dr. Lindley, to whom 

 I sent specimens, calls Abies Kcempferi. 



When I entered the court of the temple the 

 priests seemed quite lost in astonishment. No 

 other foreigner, it seemed, had been there before, 

 and many of them had only heard of us by name. 

 Some of them stood gazing at me as if I were a 

 being from another world, while others ran out to 

 inform their friends of my arrival. My request 

 for quarters was readily granted ; and being now 

 an old traveller, I was soon quite at home amongst 



