Chap. XVIII. 



THE TOWN OF MEI-CHE. 



371 



forefathers in order to protect themselves and 

 their crops from being washed away by the floods. 

 The vast plain, through which you have come 

 from Shanghae, is scarcely any higher in level than 

 where we now stand, for you will observe the tide 

 ebbs and flows quite up to Mei-che. With this slow 

 drainage for our mountain streams to the eastward 

 we have frequently a large body of water pouring 

 down upon us from the west, which overflows the 

 river's banks and carries everything away before 

 it. The embankments which you observe run- 

 ning in all directions are intended to check these 

 floods, and prevent them from extending over the 

 country." 



Upon giving the matter a little consideration 

 I had no doubt that the explanation given by the 

 Chinese farmer was the correct one, and that how- 

 ever strange these embankments might appear 

 they were necessary for the safety of this part 

 of the country. 



Mei-che is a long town on the banks of the 

 stream, and as the river is no longer navigable for, 

 the low-country boats a considerable business is 

 done here in hill productions, which are brought 

 down for sale. They are put on board of boats 

 here, and conveyed in them to the towns in the 

 plains. 



This town appears to be almost the western 

 boundary of the great silk country. Here the 

 mulberry plantations, although pretty numerous, 

 do not form the staple crop of the district, nor do 



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