Chap. III. 



YEN-CHOW-FOO. 



53 



ware is manufactured here, and sold much cheaper 

 than in the towns nearer to the sea. It is a place of 

 call for all the Hwuy-chow boats, and a considerable 

 trade is carried on in all the common necessaries of 

 life. Judging from its size, it may contain about 

 200,000 inhabitants. They do not seem so rich, or 

 at all events they are not so gaily dressed, as their 

 neighbours in Hang-chow. 



A little below the town there are two very pretty 

 pagodas ; one of these is built on a curious conical 

 hill, and is named the Hoo-lung-ta. Here the river 

 divides, or, I should rather say, two streams unite, 

 one of which comes down from the southward, taking 

 its rise partly on the borders of Kiang-see and Kiang- 

 nan, and partly on the northern sides of the Great 

 Bohea mountains. To this I may return afterwards. 

 In the mean time I went up the northern branch, 

 which comes down from the green-tea country of 

 Hwuy-chow. 



The hills about Yen-chow-foo are barren, but the 

 valleys and low lands are rich and fertile. This city 

 is considered half-way between Hang-chow and Hwuy- 

 chow, and our boatmen seemed to think themselves 

 entitled to make it serve the purpose of a half-way 

 house, at which they could remain some time. More- 

 over the river had increased much in rapidity, and it 

 was necessary to add considerably to the number of 

 our crew. Two days were spent here in making 

 these arrangements, and in making various purchases, 

 such as straw shoes for the men, rice to serve us 

 during the remainder of the journey, and also articles 



