Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/175

 The Gorges of the Lien-Chow River. 171

for the hands to endure many moments. It possesses no medicinal qualities, a bottle having been tested, showing simply water and nothing else. The people from the village near by improve the convenient provision for laundry and other purposes.

The next object of interest, about two miles further on, is the ‘Dragon Cave,” in a hill on the left, at the foot. of Tai-li Pass. The opening of the cave, which is but a few yards from the water, is hidden by a temple, the keeper of which rises from his opium couch to demand a contri- bution of fragrant oil for his lamps from all who enter. The cave is a very remarkable one, having an air of great antiquity. The sides and pillars are full of strange hollows and indentations, and the roof is composed of many coneave surfaces of rock, with fragmentary bits of stalactitic formation. About two hundred yards from the entrance the floor descends, and an accumulation of soft mud and water renders further progress uninviting. The roof in the inner pzrt is pierced with openings that extend fer up into the rock, affording retreats for myriads of bats, which, disturbed by the unusual appearance of lights among them, flit about uncomfortably over our heads. The walls and roof are of a dull-grey colour, showing but little variety. The cave is said to be twenty miles deep, exit on the other side of the mountain being possible. The accuracy of this statement remains to be verified by actual exploration.

The Tai-li Pass, which we now enter, deserves more than a passing glance. A high perpendicular wall of rock rises abruptly from the water on the left, a sheer preeipice, whose whitish surface is varied by numerous