346 
THE SMALL PEI-HO. 
now and then jolted against its sides with great 
violence. These carts are not furnished with 
springs of any kind ; indeed the strongest 
springs, if subjected to such jolting, would soon 
get broken. 
On our way through the suburb I observed a 
great number of large hotels for the accommoda- 
tion of travellers in going to or returning from 
the capital. Travelling onwards in a northerly 
direction, we soon reached the banks of the Pei-ho, 
near a point where another river falls into it. 
This river is called the “ Small Pei-ho,” and is the 
one I have already mentioned as leading up to the 
important town of Pow-ting-foo, the chief town of 
the district. Having crossed the river by a bridge 
of boats, we found that we had left Tien-tsin and 
its suburbs entirely behind us, and were now in 
the open country. For many miles the country 
around was perfectly flat, and covered in all direc- 
tions with Kow-leang, the tall millet already 
noticed. Now and then, during the journey, we 
got glimpses of the Pei-ho as it wound, snake-like, 
through the plain ; and the tall masts and sails of 
boats showed themselves here and there, in the 
distance, above the tops of the millet. 
During the day we passed through the towns of 
Puh-kow and Yang-tsoun, and arrived at Tsai- 
tsoun in the evening, having come a distance of 
eighty-five le, or somewhere about twenty-eight 
English miles. There are two large inns in this 
place, and in one of these I determined on putting 
