CnAr. XVI. PINC-HOO— MULBERRY-TREES. 
273 
perfectly quiet and civil. When we reached the landing- 
place I thanked my two friends for their kindness, and 
bade them adieu : then, stepping into the boat, she was 
pushed out into the stream, and we soon left the crowd 
and the Tartar city far behind us. 
The country through which we passed was perfectly 
level, highly cultivated, and more richly wooded than 
any of the lowlands which I had visited before. It was 
getting dark when we reached a town of considerable 
size, named Ping-hoo, which is distant only a few miles 
from Chapoo, and I determined to remain there for the 
night. When the morning dawned I roused the China- 
men, and we proceeded on our journey. We now passed ' 
through an extensive silk-district, where the mulberry-^! 
tree was the principal object of cultivation. The na- 
tives at this time (May 18th) were busily employed in 
gathering the leaves and feeding the silk-worms with 
them. 
The mulberry-trees are all grafted, and produce very 
fine thick leaves. I obtained a plant which is now alive , 
in England, in order to determine the particular variety, 
and whether it is different from the kinds which are \ 
used for the purpose in Europe. It is not yet, however, 
in a sufficiently advanced state for this to be ascertained. 
One thing, however, is certain, tha,t the silk produced in 
this district is considered as being amongst the finest in 
China; but whether this is owing to the particular 
variety of mulberry-tree used in feeding the worms, or 
to climate or soil, still remains to be ascertained. If the 
plant should prove a different species or variety from 
that which is cultivated in the south of Europe, it may 
n3 
