Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/211

 At the Al inicipiaiiian 207

a shallow channel worn in the rock, following the strokes of the character, and having faithfully traced this sig- nificant word, disappears through an opening in the rock at the lower side. It is difficult to say how much of this is natural, and how much artificial, but the people hold it in great reverence, and ascribe it directly to supernatural agency, It is supposed to have a peculiar connection with, and a special influence over, the clouds. Iu the spring of a certain year the Prefect of Lien-chow came to this shrine to pray for rain, and so timed his visit that abundance of rain followed his supplication,

Returning to the river, we continue up its stream, and are soon amidst lofty hills again, A swift current means slow progress, but the time is never irksome with these fine hills for company. Among the steep hills on the right are the remains of a settlement of the Iu people. Some years ago, thirty families of these people came from the distant mountains and founded a little colony here, but either the space was too small or the soil too sterile, or the Chinese harassed aud defrauded them, so that they could not support them- selves, and returned to their former homes, The ruins of their cabins can be seen, and the trees they planted, mostly wood-oil and peach trees, now well grown. Their land has fallen into other hands, and a small boy from the place, with a supply of firewood, showed a most precocious cleverness in bartering with the boatmen.

A short distance above this point we come to a full stop at the foot of the “Gander Rapid,” the longest, the swiftest, and the most difficult to ascend of all the rapids yet encountered. The water, inclined to spread