232 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. Chap. XIII. 



to the cultivation and manufacture of tea than to the 

 rites of their peculiar faith. Everywhere in front of 

 their dwellings I observed bamboo framework erected 

 to support the sieves, which, when filled with leaves, 

 are exposed to the sun and air. The priests and 

 their servants were all busily employed in the mani- 

 pulation of this valuable leaf. 



When we arrived at the lake it presented a fine 

 appearance. The noble leaves of the nelumbium 

 were seen rising above its surface, and gold and silver 

 fish were sporting in the water below, while all around 

 the scenery was grand and imposing. Leaving the 

 lake we followed the path which seemed to lead us to 

 some perpendicular rocks. In the distance we could 

 see no egress from the basin, but as we got nearer a 

 chasm was visible by which the huge rock was parted, 

 and through which flowed a little stream with a path- 

 way by its side. It seemed, indeed, as if the stream 

 had gradually worn down the rock and formed this 

 passage for itself, which was not more than six or 

 eight feet in width. 



These rocks consist of clay slate, in which occur, 

 embedded in the form of beds or dykes, great masses 

 of quartz rock, while granite of a deep black colour, 

 owing to the mica, which is of a fine deep bluish- 

 black, cuts through them in all directions. This 

 granite forms the summit of most of the principal 

 mountains in this part of the country. 



Resting on this clay slate are sandstone conglo- 

 merates, formed principally of angular masses of 

 quartz held together by a calcareous basis, and alter- 



