Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/215

 tt the Headwaters. 211

pouring its white, foaming stream down oue of the many ravines, the peculiar swaying motion of the falling volume of water and the clouds of dashing spray being distinctly observed at a distance of eight miles or more, attesting the appropriateness of the name, ‘“ White Water,” given to it by the natives. Reserving the best for the last, we turn aside from these mountains, with their incomparable cataract, to the scenes more close at hand.

We are nearing the end of the journey by boat, and are asked to observe, as we proceed, the dams in this part of the river, and certainly they are worth a moment's notice, ‘They are solid stone barricrs built across the stream, with an opening seven feet wide for the boats. Thirteen of these oceur in the last five miles, and, though much more expensive in the beginning than the ordinary structures made of pine piles and drift-wood, they show an immense economy in the end, by resisting all the floods that anuually visit this region, tearing out the wooden dams so laboriously built, and bringing misery alike upon farmers, boatmen, and merchants. We pass the Sing-tsz pagoda, standing seven storeys high on the top of a small barren hill, its upper part much shattered by a stroke of lightning received a few years ago. Several stone bridges, really admirable structures, mark the upper part of this stream. At the head of navigation is Sing-tsz, “Child of the Stars,” the most important town we have seen since leaving Lien-chow. It is the official residence of the Fan-chow, and the centre of a populous region, from twenty to thirty villages being attached to the market town. Its large permanent trade is increased by the throngs that come to the market every fifth day.