Chap. XT. 



MOUNTAIN-CHAIR. 



199 



inconvenient to travel in one for 300 or 400 le, 

 exposed to a fierce sun, and oftentimes to heavy rain. 



The Bohea-mountain chair is constructed with 

 more attention to the comforts of the traveller. It 

 has above the seat a light bamboo frame covered 

 with oiled paper or glazed cloth. The seat has a 

 back to it formed at an angle of 45 degrees, and as 

 the chair itself, foot-board and all, is generally about 

 four feet long, the traveller can recline and sleep 

 if he chooses to do so. Some soft article, such as 

 the wadded bed- cover in common use, is generally 

 spread over the bottom and back of the chair, which 

 makes it very comfortable. 



Having made all our arrangements, I got into my 

 chair, and we left Hokow, travelling in a southerly 

 direction across the valley, which I have already 

 noticed. A small river, which rises on the north 

 side of the Bohea mountains, and which falls into 

 the Kin-keang near Hokow, comes winding down 

 this valley, and was crossed several times on our way. 



Leaving the valley of Hokow we gradually began 

 to enter a hilly country, and now and then our road led 

 us up hill-passes of considerable steepness. In going 

 over one of these passes my chair was besieged by a 

 host of beggars, the most importunate I ever met 

 with. Another traveller, who was a few yards in 

 advance of me, had them all about him for some 

 time. I could hear him protesting that he had no 

 cash in his pockets, and beseeching them to go away, 

 but this seemed only to render them more impor- 

 tunate. Whether he gave them anything or not 



