Chap. XXIII. VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAINS. 
as fantastic as if it had been artificial, were met 
with in many places. 
High above all the other temples, and nearly at 
the top of these hills, was a small one named Pou- 
choo-ting. The most charming views were ob- 
tained from this situation, not only over the vast 
plain which lay beneath us, but also of the summer 
palace of Yuen-ming-yuen, rendered famous by the 
scenes enacted there during the late war. Passing 
out of the grounds of this place, I now commenced 
the ascent of the hills behind it, and kept on until 
I reached the highest point of their summits. 
Here I sat down upon a cairn of stones to enjoy 
the scene which lay spread out before me. 
It was a lovely autumnal day, the air was cold 
and bracing, and the atmosphere so clear that 
objects at a very great distance were distinctly 
visible. Looking to the eastward I could see the 
walls and watchtowers of Peking, and the roofs of 
its yellow palaces. On my left hand I looked 
down upon the ruins of the palace of Yuen-ming- 
yuen. A little hill in the vicinity of the Summer 
Palace, and the lake of Koo-nu-hoo, were distinctly 
visible from where I was stationed. On my right, 
to the westward, a small stream appeared winding 
its way amongst the hills in the direction of the 
plain, where it was spanned by a bridge of many 
arches — the Loo-co-jou I have already mentioned. 
In front, to the south, the mighty plain of Tien- 
tsin extended far away to the distant horizon, 
dotted here and there with pagodas, but without 
