Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/143

 Along the North River. 139

botanist, provide him with many interesting specimens as yet unknown and undescribed.

On the eastern side, several miles back from the river, and about thirty miles north of Shiu-kwan, is a collection of wonderful stones, called the “Shiu-shek,” “ Musical Stones.” They are thirty-six in number, in various shapes and positions, some standing like gate- posts, others with peculiar perforations. The old records say that the great Emperor Shun, in his reputed joummey to the south, discovered their peculiar character, and played his wonderful music on them, and that fairies may sometimes be seen in flowing dress walking among them, and causing them to give forth peculiar music. In the history of Shin-kwan are given pictures of these thirty-six stones, with the name and a short account of each,

On the north border of the province stands the city of Lok-cheung, whose well-built wall shows conspicuously as we pass up the river. Immediately below the city Kwai- fung, or “ Tortoise Peak,” projects into the stream, and forms a natural fortification. In the year 1865, when snow fell toa great depth on the hills around, and the rice was greatly injured, and when the bamboos blossomed exten- sively and famine followed in Lok-cheung, at the foot of this peak, so the story runs, an iron chain fell into the river. It was not much larger than a eup, but so heavy that the people could not lift it, and after remaining in sight three days it sank from view; drought and famine followed. In the neighbouring hills are some yemarkable caves, in one of which, three miles to the east, one thousand men once took refuge ;’ another, which