Chap. V. 
CHINESE RIVER-LOCKS. 
89 
such as those seen in Europe, do not seem to be used. 
As our boat glided swiftly down the inclined plane at 
midnight, amidst the lanterns of the Chinese, the effect 
was curious enough to a person like myself who had 
never seen anything of the kind before. The second 
launch brought us upon the waters of the Ning-po river. 
During the night we passed a large city named 
Yu-eou, and next morning I found we were sailing 
down a wide and beautiful stream, which I knew passed 
by the city of Ning-po, and entered the sea at Chinhae. 
The country in its general features was hilly, but a plain 
of some extent was seen on each side of the river. This 
low ground was wet and marshy, and only fit for the 
cultivation of rice. 
An immense number of tombs was seen covering the 
sides of the hills, and plainly betokened that we were 
approaching a large and populous city. Juniper and 
pine trees were grouped about the graves, and gave a 
sombre yet pleasing aspect to the last resting-places of 
the dead. The tallow-tree still occupied a prominent 
place on the edges of the fields and canals, as well as on 
the hill-sides ; and showed, by the extent to which it is 
cultivated, that it must be a most important tree to the 
Chinese. 
Nothing worthy of note occurred until I reached the 
town of Ning-po. It was as welcome a sight as I had 
seen for many a day, when the old town, with its pagoda, 
temples, and ramparts, came in view. It was well 
known to me in former years, and I felt myself " quite 
at home,'' after a long and somewhat perilous, although 
in many respects a pleasant journey. 
