Chap. XI. 
CITY OF CADING. 
191 
direction for a few miles, and then, all at once, our 
little boat shot out of it into a broad and beautiful 
canal, resembling a lake or broad river, running nearly 
east and west, and probably connecting itself with the 
Yang-tse-kiang river, somewhere between Woosung and 
Nanking. The scenery here is extremely striking ; the 
broad and smooth canal bears on its waters hundreds of 
Chinese boats of all sizes, under sail, and each hurrying 
to its place of destination ; pagodas here and there are 
seen rearing their heads above the woods and Buddhist 
temples, which are scattered over this wide and extensive 
plain. One of these temples crowns a solitary little hill, 
named Quin-san, which at certain seasons of the year 
is visited by crowds of people from Soo-chow and the 
neighbouring towns : the whole country, as far as the 
eye can reach, is one vast rice-field ; and everywhere the 
pleasing clatter of the water-wheels falls upon the ear, 
and hundreds of happy and contented Chinese peasants 
are seen engaged in the cultivation of . the soil. After 
continuing its westerly course for some distance, the 
canal divided, and the branch we took soon led us to 
another town named Ta-tsong-tseu. It is a place of great 
size, walled and fortified like Cading and Shanghae, and 
is probably larger than the latter, although perhaps not 
so populous. A great number of large old junks are 
moored on the canal round the walls, apparently used as 
dwelling-houses, being now unfit for any other service. 
This town, too, like Cading, is evidently in a decay- 
ing state, judging from the dilapidated condition 
of the houses and fortifications, but teems with an 
