60 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. Chap. III. 



Limestone rock is very plentiful in this district, 

 and there are a great number of kilns for burning it, 

 constructed exactly like those we see at home. Large 

 quantities of water-fowl, such as geese, ducks, teal, 

 and several fine varieties of the kingfisher, were com- 

 mon about the river. Inland, on the hill-sides, phea- 

 sants, woodcocks, and partridges were most abundant. 

 I believe deer are also plentiful, but I did not see any. 



Thus day after day passed pleasantly by ; the wea- 

 ther was delightful, the natives quiet and inoffensive, 

 and the scenery picturesque in the highest degree. My 

 Chinamen and myself, often footsore and weary, used 

 to sit down on the hill-top and survey and enjoy the 

 beautiful scenery around us. The noble river, clear 

 and shining, was seen winding amongst the hills ; here 

 it was smooth as glass, deep and still, and there shal- 

 low, and running rapidly over its rocky bed. At 

 some places trees and bushes hung over its sides, 

 and dipped their branches into the water, while at 

 others rocks reared their heads high above the stream, 

 and bade defiance to its rapid current. 



The whole country was hilly, and the distant 

 mountains, varying in height from three hundred to 

 three thousand feet, were peaked, ridged, and fur- 

 rowed in a most remarkable manner. Altogether 

 the views were most charming, and will long remain 

 vividly impressed upon my memory. 



On the 29th and 30th of October we passed the 

 towns of Tsa-yuen, Tsasa-poo, Kang-koo, and Shang-i- 

 yuen, all places of considerable note, particularly the 

 last, which must contain at least 100,000 inhabitants. 



