168 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. X. 
quicker and more cheaply than those from the southern 
side of the Bohea mountains. 
We were now approaching the end of our first day's 
journey from Hokow. The day was far advanced, and 
we intended to put up for the night at Chu-chu, a small 
town near the foot of the Bohea mountains properly so 
called. During all my wanderings in China I had never 
yet slept in a Chinese inn, and could not help indulging 
in various speculations respecting it. Calling Sing- Hoo, 
I desired him and the coolie with the luggage to go 
before and look out for a respectable place in which we 
could pass the night. 
The town of Chu-chu is built on the two sides of a 
mountain stream. It is a small, poor place, supported 
by travellers and coolies passing too and from the Bohea 
mountains, and by the trade in the tea which is grown 
and manufactured in the surrounding districts. 
My chairmen followed Sing-Hoo down the main street 
of the town for some distance. He had been making 
many inquiries by the way, and at last entered one of 
the numerous inns which abound in the place. Having 
hastily inspected it, and seeing it would suit our purpose, 
he returned to the door to give me this information. 
After being received in due form by the landlord, I 
walked through the outer part of the premises into the 
reception-hall. 
This inn, although somewhat smaller than the one 
formerly described, was built upon the same plan. The 
part fronting the street was perfectly open, being entirely 
composed of pillars and shutters. Mine host, with a 
cloth in his hand, hastily wiped a table and chair, and, 
