412 



NEW EHODODENDEO.N. 



Chap. XXI. 



Being very anxious to procure vegetating seeds 

 of this fine tree, I offered a considerable sum to 

 one of tlie villagers of Poo-in-cliee providing lie 

 would go with us and act as our guide through 

 the mountains. The person who had been giving 

 us the information above intimated his readiness 

 to accompany us, but suggested that instead of 

 starting then it would be better to put off the 

 journey until the following day, when we could 

 start by daylight. But the day was yet early and 

 fine, and I was determined to proceed at once. By 

 a little coaxing our guide was induced to swallow 

 a hasty meal and accompany us on our journey. 



Our road led us over the highest ridges of the 

 mountains, which are here fully three thousand 

 feet above the level of the sea. The tops of these 

 mountains are so cold in winter that nothing but 

 an alpine vegetation can exist ; — the strange tro- 

 pical-looking forms, such as the bamboo, the Chusan 

 palm, and plants of that kind met with at a lower 

 elevation, give place to wiry grass, gentians, spi- 

 rseas, and other hardy plants of a like description. 

 Here and there on our journey we came upon fine 

 examples of the golden pine-tree (Abies Kcempferi) 

 growing a little way down on the mountain-slopes. 

 Cephalotasus Fortunei and Cryptomeria japonica 

 were also found at high elevations. 



In a romantic glen through which we passed on 

 our journey I came upon a remarkably fine-looking 

 rhododendron. A species of the genus {R. Cham- 

 pioned) had been discovered on the Hongkong hills. 



