142 WANDERINGS IN CHINA. Chap. VIII. 
quantities of buckwheat, Indian corn, millet, and soy 
growing in the fields. A species of berberis, apparently 
a variety of our English one, was cultivated rather ex- 
tensively, but for what purpose I could not learn, — pro- 
bably for medicine or as a dye. 
Above Long-yeou the river became in many places 
narrow and very rapid. Several old water-wheels were 
observed half sanded up and completely useless. Trees 
and bushes dipped their branches into the stream, and re- 
minded me of the country rivers in England. We 
passed a great number of small villages, but saw no 
place of any size or importance until we reached 
Chu-chu-foo, a large city 90 le west from Long-yeou and 
180 from Nan-che. 
Soon after daylight on the 1st of June two pagodas 
came in sight, and indicated, as they always do, our 
near approach to some important town. This was Chu- 
chu-foo, which was then only three or four miles distant. 
As we approached nearer to it, groves of orange-trees 
became common. The tea-plant was also extensively 
cultivated, but the produce is not considered first-rate. 
Earth-nuts {Arachis hypogcea) and soy are plentiful, both 
\ of these crops delighting in a light sandy soil. A great 
number of low hills are seen in the midst of the plain. 
The soil of these hills or hillocks is generally perfectly 
barren, and of a brick-red — the colour of the calcareous 
sandstone of the district. The Chinese do not make 
many attempts to cultivate them. 
At Chu-chu-foo there is a pretty bridge of boats, 
through which we passed. This bridge is taken away 
when the river is likely to become much swollen by 
