Chap. XXI. 



CURIOUS SUPERSTITION. 



405 



CHAPTEE XXL 



Return to the interior — Curious superstition — Adventures with a 

 priest — Journey in search of new trees — Mountain scenery — New 

 Rhododendron — Valley of the nine stones — Fine trees — Yew and 

 golden pine — Curiosity of the natives — A dark and stormy night 

 — We lose ourselves amongst the mountains — Seek shelter in a 

 hut — ■ Alarm of the inmates — Morning after the storm — Return to 

 Ningpo — A fine new plant discovered — Adieu to the north of 

 China — Engage scented-tea makers, &c., at Canton — Sail for 

 India — Complimentary letter from Lord Dalhousie — Ordered to 

 visit the tea-plantations in the Himalayas and Punjab — Return to 

 England. 



On reacliing Ningpo I lost no time in proceeding 

 onward to the interior of the country, in order, as 

 I have already said, to wind up matters with the 

 natives in various parts who had been assisting 

 me in procuring supplies of plants, seeds, and 

 other objects of natural history. 



In going up one of the rivers at this time I 

 observed the elFect of a curious superstition which 

 both amused and surprised me at the time. Every 

 one knows that nearly all the junks and boats of 

 China have eyes carved or painted in the bows. 

 I had observed them on all parts of the coast, and 

 had often heard the reason said to be given hj the 

 Cantonese, namely, " Suppose no got eye, how can 

 see?" but I did not imagine that any one was so 



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