Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/102

 98 Ling-Nam.

time forth the number of devotees increased, until the present monastery was built. It receives the patronage of many wealthy families in Canton, and is one of the most delightful resorts in the province. This side of the mountain is called “New Teng-oo.”

From the village of How-leuk, at the foot of the gorge, going directly through the town of Tai-chun-uen, which is the home of the Leung family, the original proprietors of the mountain, we come to the foot of “Old Teng-oo.” Thence a good broad road leads up the hillside, which was formerly covered with fine trees that shaded the path. Of these but few have escaped the wood-eutter’s axe. As early as the Tang dynasty, in the eighth century, a monastery was built near'the summit of this mountain, the river at that time flowing close to the foot of the hill. Near it was a perennial fountain called “ Lit-pun-shek,” “ Split-in-halfrock,” in form like a deep well, sunk in the natural rock, filled with dark-green water, almost black in appearance. This was called “Teng-oo,” “Summit Lake,” and gave its name to the whole mountain group. This old monastery is now in ruins and its shrines deserted. It is a pleasant tour to go up the path by Old Teng-oo, thence over the summit, and down the slope to Hing-wan-tsz ; and out to the river Loh-yan-hang. The upper slopes of these hills are covered with the omamental shrub which produces the Chinese New Year's bell-flower.

Large quantities of the branches with the unopened buds are sent to the city, where they are found in almost every house and temple at New Year's time, their delicate clusters of pink-and-white bell-shaped flowers forming graceful ornaments in jars and vases.