300 



TEA DISTKICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XVII. 



which flows to the westward. As we entered the 

 town I observed soldiers idling about in all direc- 

 tions ; some were washing their clothes in the river, 

 others were smoking in the tea-shops, while many 

 were sitting chatting at the doors. All seemed to 

 have eager eyes for the passing traveller, whom it 

 was their duty to examine. 



When we had got about half way through the town 

 we stopped at a tea-shop for refreshment. Sing-Hoo 

 begged me to remain in my chair until we had passed 

 the Tartar lines, and I judged it prudent to do so. 

 During the time we stopped, a mandarin of an inferior 

 grade came and examined us, and seeing nothing out 

 of the common way he merely inquired of Sing-Hoo 

 where we had come from, and where we were going 

 to. When he had obtained the requisite information, 

 he walked away, seemingly perfectly satisfied. 



We now crossed the river, which, I believe, here 

 divides Fokien from Chekiang. Another high hill 

 was before us, and we began to ascend it soon after 

 we had crossed the river ; and here an accident hap- 

 pened, which, had it taken place in the midst of 

 the town through which we had just passed, might 

 have been attended with disagreeable results. One 

 of the bamboo levers of my chair, which I had often 

 thought rather unsound, suddenly snapped in two, 

 and the chair came down upon the road. This was 

 very annoying, yet I felt thankful that it had not 

 occurred while we were within the Tartar lines. 



The chair-bearers said they could procure another 

 bamboo at some cottages close by, so, leaving Sing- 



