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 114 Ling-Nam.

officials on their way up the river, we take the road to Kwong-ning, a district city several miles inland. For some distance the bamboos form an impenetrable wall on either side, and as we go back from the river the hills are still covered with groves, but the low plains are given up to rice. A dozen villages are passed before we reach the top of the ridge, which must be crossed before the town is seen, A small pavilion near the summit, with tea and cakes set out, invites the exhausted traveller to rest and refreshment. The descent to the city is rapid, the road still winding amid feathery plumes until a small sandy stream is reached, beyond which lies the town, a straggling, unattractive place. A good paved road, beside which several fine memorial gateways are seen, leads out to Tung-heung, the point of transfer for goods and merchandise on the river. Thyrongs of men and women carrying salt,.rolls of cloth, and other goods, ave met. - Several villages, in which were some unusually fine houses, indicate a good degree of wealth. Tung- heung is a busy place, crowded into the narrow space between the high bluff and the river. Under a favouring breeze we make good progress up the stream. ‘he report: of tigers causes the boatmen to select a safe anchorage for the night, and leads to many words of ‘yemonstrance'dgainst roaming over the hills in search of plants or attractive spots. A man from the village near by confirms the reports, by the information that a few nights previous a tiger had visited the village and carried off a pig, and that two months before one had come and carried off a cow from the place.

Half-a-day’s journey above Tung-heung we come toa