Chap. XI. 
THE JAPAN CEDAR. 
coolies, and mountains were all forgotten, and I believe, 
had the guard of Celestials attempted to prevent me 
from going into Fokien, the only boon I should have 
asked at their hands would have been to be allowed to 
go and inspect this noble pine. 
The Chinese guard, however, had not the slightest 
intention of interfering with my movements, and, as the 
tree was on the roadside, I soon came up to it, and 
found it to be the J apan cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), 
a tree which I had already introduced into England, and 
which, even in a young state, had been greatly admired 
there. I had never before seen such a noble specimen, 
and, although I would rather it had been something 
new, I yet felt proud of having been the means of intro- 
ducing into Europe a tree of such size, symmetry, and 
beauty. It was at least one hundred and twenty feet in 
height, — it might be much more, — as straight as a larch, 
and had its lower branches drooping to the ground. It 
had not been " lopped," like other Chinese trees, and 
was evidently preserved with great care. My Chinamen 
looked upon it with great admiration, and informed 
me it was the only specimen of the kind in this part of 
the country, and that it had been planted by some 
former emperor when he crossed the mountains. 
The indigenous plants of these mountains are of great 
interest. The ravines were rich in bamboos, many of 
which were of great beauty. The Chinese pine {Pinus 
sinensis) was abundant everywhere, but did not attain 
a large size. Higher up various species of oak were met 
with, and a thistle, not unlike the common English 
thistle, was abundant. Very few trees were to be seen 
