Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/160

 156. Ling-Nam.

gorge that divides the hills on the south-west side, down which a beautiful stream of crystal water flows. The narrow passage allows no foothold on the margin of the stream, so we climb the shoulder of the hill to the right, from which we look down into its limpid depths, and see the great boulders strewing the bottom, and fishes a foot or more long darting in and out among the rocks. After walking a few hundred yards along the narrow path on the steep hillside, we find a path where we can descend to the water’s edge, where, in the shadow of the cliff, with the water dashing at our feet, we drink in the beauty of the scene; it is a picture that memory loves to revert to. The hill on the one side is bare, except at its base, having, at the time of our visit, been recently desolated hy fire; but the one on the other side is covered with the richest vegetation. Rendered almost inacces- sible by the peculiar formation and position of the rocks, its floral treasures remain where Nature has produced them. By some mighty convulsion the strata of rocks have been upheaved until, broken asunder, they stand perpendicularly on their edges, and in the interstices between the strata masses of verdure spring forth in the greatest luxuriance. Ferns, tripling their usual size, orchids, begonias, ete., flourish in great vigour. At the head of the gorge, which is scarcely two furlongs in extent, the little stream divides, its two branches encir- cling the base of a series of hills, whose sides are devoted to the cultivation of tea, fields of this fragrant shrub stretching in verdant squares almost to the tops of the hills.

Emerging from Sam-hap Pass, a panorama of moun- tain scenery of exquisite beauty gradually unfolds before