234 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA, 



Chap. XIII. 



seen stretching from east to west as far as the eye 

 could reach, and apparently forming an impenetrable 

 barrier between Fokien and the rich and populous 

 province of Kiang-see. 



The sun was now setting behind the Bohea hills, 

 and, as twilight is short in these regions, the last rays 

 warned me that it would be prudent to get back to 

 the vicinity of the temples near which I had taken 

 up my quarters. On my way back I came upon a 

 tomb in which nine priests had been interred. It was 

 on the hill side, and seemed a fit resting-place for the 

 remains of such men. It had evidently been a kind 

 of natural cavern under the rock, with an opening in 

 front. The bodies were placed in it, the arched rock 

 was above them, and the front was built up with the 

 same material. Thus entombed amongst their 

 favourite hills, these bodies will remain until "the 

 rocks shall be rent," at that day when the trumpet of 

 the archangel shall sound, and the grave shall give 

 up its dead. 



On a kind of flat terrace in front of this tomb I 

 observed the names of each of its occupants, and the 

 remains of incense-sticks which had been burning but 

 a short time before, when the periodical visit to the 

 tombs was paid. I was afterwards told by the high 

 priest that there was still room for one more within 

 the rocky cave. That one, he said, was himself ; 

 and the old man seemed to look forward to the 

 time when he must be laid in his grave as not far 

 distant. 



As I was now in the vicinity of the temples, and 



