172 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XI. 
I always like to look on scenery of this kind early in 
the morning. I do not know whether it is that there is 
a freshness and beauty about it then which it loses when 
the day is further advanced, or whether the mind is 
more susceptible of impressions then than at other 
times ; it may be that both these combine to render 
morning views most delightful and pleasing to the 
eye. Had I chosen the time for my first view of the 
Bohea mountains, I could not have been more fortunate. 
The morning was clear, the air cool, and the sun was 
just shining on their eastern sides. As its rays shone on 
the rugged peaks, they gave a rich and golden tint to 
some, while those in the shade looked gloomy and 
frowning. Strange rocks, like gigantic statues of men 
or various animals, appeared to cro\vn the heights, and 
made the view most remarkable. 
Our road had been of an undulating character all the 
way from Hokow, and, although we had ascended a 
great number of hills, yet we generally descended again 
into valleys on the opposite side, but, on the whole, we 
were gradually attaining a higher elevation above the 
level of the sea. We had now, however, arrived at the 
foot of the central and highest range, and began the 
ascent towards the mountain pass. The road here is 
about six feet in width, and paved with granite. It led 
us round the sides of the mountains, and gradually 
carried us higher and higher, and at last, when we had 
rounded one of the upper windings, a view of the pass 
itself, in the highest range, was presented. This pass is 
much lower than any other part of the range, and con- 
sequently has the mountains rising high on each side of 
