Chap. VIII. FOO-CHOW— VOYAGE UP THE MIN. 



145 



for each man had to pay a few cash for the use of 

 the ladder. Following in the train of the Chinamen, 

 I descended the ladder, greatly to the astonishment 

 of the celestial guardsman, who little expected a 

 " quang-yang"* by this convenient route. 



After spending a few days more in Foo-chow, and 

 procuring some tea-plants from the hills in the vici- 

 nity, I was anxious to proceed onwards to Ning-po 

 and Shanghae. There were three routes which 

 might be taken ; one was by sea, another was a land 

 road which led along the coast by the city of Wan- 

 chow, and the third was up the river Min to Kein- 

 ning-foo and across the Bohea mountains. The latter 

 was much the longest way, as it leads far to the 

 westward, in the direction of the far-famed Woo-e- 

 shan. For many reasons I was most anxious to 

 reach this place, and so determined on the Min route. 



Having finished my business in the district, I col- 

 lected my things together, and went down to the mouth 

 of the Min. Here I engaged a boat and set out on my 

 journey. A few miles above the town of Foo-chow 

 the river divides into two streams, one of which 

 passes the city, while the other takes a more southerly 

 course for some distance; they, however, reunite 

 about ten miles from the sea. I took the southern 

 passage, and thus avoided the city of Foo-chow alto- 

 gether. Both wind and tide being fair, my boat 

 glided up the river with great rapidity, and the first 

 night I had the satisfaction of getting as far as the 

 second bridge, three or four miles above the town, 



* The name given to foreigners here. 



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