CiiAP. XXT. 



CURIOSITY OF THE NATIVES. 



415 



the hill above the town. Many of them were from 

 sixty to eighty feet in height with fine roimd heads, 

 and altogether had a striking and ornamental ap- 

 pearance. There were no seeds to be seen on any 

 of them, but our guide informed ns they had been 

 lately gathered, and were still in the town, where 

 we conld purchase them. Some noble trees of the 

 " golden pine " were also met with here, and, to 

 my delight, were loaded with ripe cones. When 

 ripe, these cones have a rich yellow hue, which 

 probably suggested the name by which this fine 

 tree is known amongst the Chinese. I look upon 

 this tree as the most important of all my Chinese 

 introductions. It grows rapidly, produces excel- 

 lent timber, and will eventually become a striking 

 and beautiful object in our English landscape. 



While engaged in making observations upon 

 these trees I was on the hill-side above the town, 

 and consequently fully exposed to the natives. 

 The news of a stranger and foreigner being in 

 this secluded place seemed to fly from house to 

 house with the rapidity of lightning ; in less time 

 than I can describe it every door, verandah, and 

 window was crowded with anxious faces gazing 

 intently up to where I was standing. Some few, 

 more impatient than their neighbours, came run- 

 ning up the hill in order to have a nearer view, 

 and several respectable-looking persons in the 

 crowd asked me to go to their houses and drink 

 tea. Every one treated me with marked civility 

 and even kindness. 



