Chap. VIII. 



VOYAGE UP THE MIN. 



147 



grown in all the fields, and, besides the usual quan- 

 tity of vegetables, I observed a large number of 

 sweet-scented flowers, amongst which the Italian tube- 

 rose and the jasmine (Jasminum Sambac) occupied 

 a prominent place. The latter are sold in the mar- 

 kets, and eagerly bought by the ladies for the pur- 

 pose of ornamenting their hair. 



When we got a few miles above Foo-chow we 

 seemed to leave the valley, and the scenery began 

 to change and assume quite a different aspect. The 

 hills in many places were close to the water's edge. 

 Many of them were rugged and barren, while others 

 appeared more fertile and were cultivated a consider- 

 able way up their sides; a third class were richly 

 clothed with trees and brushwood. The fruit-trees 

 already named were frequently seen growing on 

 little level spots near villages. The forest-trees con- 

 sisted chiefly of the common Chinese pine and Cun- 

 ninghamia lanceolata. Altogether the scenery was 

 most striking in its character, and richly repaid me 

 for the inconveniences attending the journey. 



A large trade in wood is carried on here — indeed, 

 it is the principal trade of Foo-chow — and we were 

 constantly meeting large rafts floating down the 

 stream on their way to the city. I observed small 

 houses built on some of these rafts for the accommo- 

 dation of the persons who had charge of them. Their 

 occupation seemed to me a most delightful one, and 

 as they glided gently down the stream, having on all 

 sides the most beautiful and romantic scenery, I 

 almost envied them their happy lot, 



The country on the banks of the Min at this part 



l 2 



