194 



TEA DISTKICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. X. 



there is a pretty bridge of boats across the river ; but 

 I was only a short time here, and had no time for 

 minute examination. 



Sing-Hoo was now despatched to engage another 

 boat, and to lay in the necessary supplies for our 

 journey. He remained absent a long time, and when 

 he returned excused himself by saying that he had 

 called upon a friend and countryman of his own, to 

 get information regarding our route. I was obliged 

 to content myself with this explanation, but was 

 rather surprised to see a person come into our boat 

 shortly afterwards, carrying two large packages of 

 grass -cloth. These weighed at least forty pounds. 

 " To whom does this cloth belong ? " I asked. " Oh, 

 it is mine," replied Sing-Hoo ; " this cloth is very 

 cheap here, and I want to take it back with me to a 

 friend in Shanghae." This was very provoking : here 

 was the old accumulating propensity at work again. 

 I knew we had still a long journey before us, over 

 many steep and rugged mountains, where our bag- 

 gage had to be carried on the backs of coolies. I 

 had reduced my own baggage as much as possible, 

 and had already obliged Sing-Hoo to leave all his 

 superfluous things at Yen-chow-foo, and now he 

 brought a package larger than all we had, and ex- 

 pected me to hire coolies to carry it twice across the 

 Bohea mountains, because this grass-cloth was a few 

 cash cheaper at Quan-sin-foo than at Shanghae or 

 Ning-po ! I really believe such a project would never 

 have entered the brain of any one except a China- 

 man. 



