54 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. III. 
the boundary-line was crossed we came to another place 
of like size and appearance, also filled with soldiers, who 
were under the orders of the authorities of Hwuy- 
chow-foo, in the province of Kiang-nan. These two 
parties formed a sort of border guard, and bore each 
other, I believe, little good-will. They reminded me of 
our own border clans in ancient feudal times. Boats 
passing up and down the river were generally boarded, 
and had their papers examined by one of the officers. 
The boatman who had the dispute with Wang now 
threatened to have him punished here, at which he was 
greatly frightened. The man, however, if he ever 
intended it, did not put his threat into execution, and 
we passed the dreaded border in safety. 
When we got fairly inside the Hwuy-chow district I 
was able to ramble about in the country as before. The 
river became not only shallow, but in many parts so full 
of rocks and stones that it was next to impossible to pick 
out a passage for the boat. It still wound through a 
hilly and mountainous country. The hills, however, 
became gradually more fertile as we proceeded, and in 
many parts they were cultivated to their summits. Crops 
of millet and Indian com were growing amongst the tea- 
bushes, which were now observed in large quantities on 
the sides of the hills. The corn and millet, growing up 
in the hot months of summer and autumn, seemed to 
afford a partial shade to the tea, which was probably 
beneficial to it. Another reason for the practice may be 
found in the fondness of the Chinese for mixing crops — 
a practice in operation all over the country. I never 
saw finer crops of millet and Indian com than those 
