366 MUSICAL BUDDHIST HIGH PRIEST. Chap. XVIII. 



chow, where we found a wide canal leading round 

 the walls to the west gate. Following this canal 

 we soon skulled round, and found ourselves on a 

 wide and deep river which takes its rise amongst 

 the hills in the far west. It is called Lun-ke by 

 the natives, and probably one of its most distant 

 sources is near the celebrated Tein-muh-shan — a 

 mountain said to be the highest in this part of 

 China. 



In sailing up this river I observed that the 

 plantations of mulberry still formed the staple 

 crop of the country on all the flat lands which 

 were raised above the surface of the rice-fields. 

 About sixty le west of Hoo-chow-foo I observed a 

 large monastery not very far from the banks of 

 the river, and as it seemed situated in the midst of 

 rich and luxuriant vegetation, I determined to 

 moor my boat to the banks of the river, and 

 remain in the neighbourhood for a few days. As 

 I was going up the road in the direction of the 

 temple I met an old respectable-looking priest 

 carrying a kind of flute or flageolet in his hand, 

 which he induced now and then to give out 

 not unmusical sounds. His head was shaven 

 after the manner of the priests of Buddha ; but 

 the three nails on his left hand were each about 

 two inches in length, denoting that he did not 

 earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, and that 

 in fact he was one of the superiors in the order to 

 which he belonged. This old gentleman met me 

 in the most dignified manner, and did not express 



