Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/114

 110 Ling-Nam.

into the stream, aud scores of small boats ply in and ovt among them, detaching and rearranging the floating masses of wood. Much of the timber from the upper stream is here prepared in suitable shape for the large cities below.

Above Sz-ui the hills approach the river, and the long fringe of bamboo begins to appear as we enter the Kwong-ning district. This is the great bamboo-produc- ing district in the province. For nearly one hundred miles the groves extend without break, not only covering the low lands along the river, but extending up the sides of steep and rocky hills, Nothing but the actual sight ean give a proper conception of the vast amount of bamboo cultivated along this stream, or the peculiar charm it gives to the hills, clothed with its graceful plumes, most of them showing a light-green colour in contrast to the darker foliage of the pines that remain scattered here and there among them. The large market town of Shek-kow, “Stone Dog,” is at the lower extremity of the bamboo country, and is the ehief centre of trade in the Kwong-ning district. Several other market towns are passed as we go up the stream, such as Wong-teen, “Yellow Field,” Chuu-shui, “ Vernal Water,’ Shek-tan, “ Rocky Ford,” and Ku-shui, “ Water of Mercy,” besides a few large villages.

The heavy fringe of bamboo hangs heavily along the river banks, leaving no space for a road, so that when the water is high it is almost impossible for boats to go up, For miles we travel without seeing houses or village, the whole country being so thickly eovered with barhoos. Following the narrow paths, however, that wind through