Chap. VIII. 
THE TALLOW-TREE. 
135 
When I awoke the next morning the storm and all its 
effects had passed away. The sun was just tinging the 
tops of the hills, and every tree and bush was glistening 
with heavy drops of rain and dew. The river had fallen 
considerably, but the stream was still too rapid for our 
progress upwards, so I had an early breakfast and went 
on shore. 
The low lands through which this river flows were 
now much broader — the hills appeared to fall back, and 
a beautiful rich valley was disclosed to view. The 
soil of this valley is a deep sandy loam, resting on a bed 
of gravel. I observed some patches of the mulberry 
and tea plants under cultivation, but the tallow-tree 
{Stillingia sehifera) is evidently the staple production j 
of the district. The number of these trees cultivated in \ 
the province of Chekiang is immense, and shows that'* 
the tallow and oil expressed from their seeds must be 
considered articles of great importance and value. 
Groups of pine-trees were observed scattered over the ; 
country. They marked the last resting-places of the j 
dead, and had a pleasing and pretty effect. Amongst I 
these pines I frequently observed the beautiful weeping ; 
cypress which I had discovered in the green-tea country 
the autumn before. N 
About three o'clock in the afternoon, the stream 
having become less rapid, we proceeded on our journey. 
Between Ta-yang and Nan-che we had many rapids to 
pass, but the wind being fair we made good progress. 
The next day, about two o'clock, we were within 30 le 
of Nan-che, and had every prospect of being able to 
reach it the same evening. A circumstance happened, 
