Chap. XII. FIRST VIEW OF THE BOHEA MOUNTAINS. 209 



I always like to look on scenery of this kind early 

 in the morning. I do not know whether it is that 

 there is a freshness and beauty about it then which 

 it loses when the day is further advanced, or whether 

 the mind is more susceptible of impressions then than 

 at other times ; it may be that both these combine to 

 render morning views most delightful and pleasing to 

 the eye. Had I chosen the time for my first view of 

 the Bohea mountains, I could not have been more 

 fortunate. The morning was clear, the air cool, and 

 the sun was just shining on their eastern sides. As 

 its rays shone on the rugged peaks, they gave a rich 

 and golden tint to some, while those in the shade 

 looked gloomy and frowning. Strange rocks, like 

 gigantic statues of men or various animals, appeared 

 to crown the heights, and made the view most 

 remarkable. 



Our road had been of an undulating character all 

 the way from Hokow, and, although we had ascended 

 a great number of hills, yet we generally descended 

 again into valleys on the opposite side, but, on the 

 whole, we were gradually attaining a higher elevation 

 above the level of the sea. We had now, however, 

 arrived at the foot of the central and highest range, 

 and began the ascent towards the mountain pass. 

 The road here is about six feet in width, and paved 

 with granite. It led us round the sides of the moun- 

 tains, and gradually carried us higher and higher, 

 and at last, when we had rounded one of the upper 

 windings, a view of the pass itself, in the highest 

 range, was presented. This pass is much lower than 



p 



