322 VINEYARDS. Chap. XIX. 
are considerably below the level of the surround- 
ing ground. When I visited one of them, in 
company with Dr. Gordon, we were rather 
puzzled at first in our endeavours to find out the 
manner in which the ice-water was carried off. 
On our eyes becoming accustomed to the darkness 
of the huge building, we groped our way towards 
one of the corners pointed out to us by the pro- 
prietor, and found a deep well which received the 
drainage from the floor. The tubs of fruit are 
packed one above another, and the spaces between 
them are filled in with ice ; they are also covered 
over with the same material. In this way fruit 
of all kinds can be kept perfectly sound from one 
year to another. 
The vineyards, where the greater part of the 
grapes brought to Tien-tsin are produced, are 
situated on the left bank of the Grand Canal, 
about three miles from the city. Having seen the 
mode of preserving the grapes, we set out one day 
to see the vineyards. Crossing the bridge of boats 
already noticed, we rode through an extensive 
suburb, and then reached the open country. In 
this part the land, being comparatively fertile, is 
all under cultivation. Large fields of cabbages, 
onions, and garlic were passed, indicating the 
vicinity of a populous town. Here and there thin 
patches of millet and oily grain were observed as 
we went along. 
Some distance beyond the suburbs of the town 
we came to a line of fortifications known as San- 
