Chap. II. 
YEN-CHOW-FOO. 
35 
the river opposite, I should not imagine it of much im- 
portance as a place of trade. A considerable quantity 
of rough lacquered ware is manufactured here, and sold 
much cheaper than in the towns nearer to the sea. It is 
a place of call for all the Hwuy-chow boats, and a con- 
siderable trade is carried on in all the common neces- 
saries of life. Judging from its size, it may contain 
about 200,000 inhabitants. They do not seem so rich, 
or at all events they are not so gaily dressed, as their 
neighbours in Hang-chow. 
A little below the town there are two very pretty 
pagodas ; one of these is built on a curious conical hill, 
and is named the Hoo-lung-ta. Here the river divides, 
or I should rather say two streams unite, one of which 
comes down from the southward, taking its rise partly 
on the borders of Kiang-see and Kiang-nan, and partly 
on the northern sides of the Great Bohea mountains. To 
this I may return afterwards. In the mean time I went 
up the northern branch, which comes down from the 
green-tea country of Hwuy-chow. 
The hills about Yen-chow-foo are barren, but the 
vaUeys and low lands are rich and fertile. This city is 
considered half-way between Hang-chow and Hwuy- 
chow, and our boatmen seemed to think themselves 
entitled to make it serve the purpose of a half-way 
house, at which they could remain some time. More- 
over the river had increased much in rapidity, and it 
was necessary to add considerably to the number of our 
crew. Two days were spent here in making these 
arrangements, and in making various purchases, such 
as straw shoes for the men, rice to serve us during the 
