MEI-LING. 
183 
they are eaten as fruit. A Canton linguist who attended the Em- 
bassy, took some pains to teach me their mode of growth, and seemed 
quite aware that they were not the roots of the plant, but had been 
part of the flower. The Arachis hypogcca bears in China from two 
to four seeds in each capsule. 
We quitted our boats at Nan-gan-foo for a short land journey 
across the Mei-ling mountain, computed to be a thousand feet above 
the level of the plain whence we ascended. 
Chairs and horses being provided for our conveyance, we set out 
early on the morning of the 20th. Having passed through a cultivated 
flat of some extent, we began about an hour after leaving the city, to 
ascend the acclivity of the mountain. It soon became very steep, but 
was rendered practicable by a paved road that wound over it, and 
which in the most difficult part was formed into broad and gentle steps. 
Groves of fir trees skirted our way, forming in some places vistas, 
through which we overlooked the surrounding country : a valley of 
great extent was bounded by lofty mountains. The scene derived its 
chief interest from its moving objects. Looking back on the road 
we had passed, we saw a long train of chairs, horsemen, and porters, 
winding up the steep. Forwards the road narrowed in a defile, 
leading through the mountain, and near its termination became so 
precipitous as to oblige the horsemen to dismount. Our steeds were 
small, but spirited and powerful, and climbed with great perseverance 
and effect. The bearers of the sedans moved with a quickness and 
apparent ease which surprised me. Four carried each of the chairs 
of the principal mandarins who attended us, and moved in mea- 
sured but quick time, in an oblique direction, avoiding the direct 
steepness of the path. The soldiers who accompanied us were 
equally active. Many of them were fine athletic men, and would 
in themselves have induced me to think well of the physical effi- 
ciency of the military in China. One attended each of the gentle- 
men who were on horseback, and kept up with him at whatever 
pace he rode, without giving any signs of fatigue. 
In our way we overtook a herd of porters transporting the presents 
