Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/218

 214 Ling-Nan.

others, being of a later and very different formation. From Sing-tsz we see only the western border of it, but it extends throngh the district of Ue-iien toward the North River, a region unexplored as yet, but one, unless Iam greatly mistaken, wonderfully rich and varied in natural beauty and floral productions, and in the midst of which will be found the watershed of the Lien-chow stream on the west, and the Hung-k’ai stream on the east.

From Sing-tsz we may follow the course of the main branch to the waterfall, a winding way throngh a fine farming country, and in distance twelve or fifteen miles, or, a much better plan, we may take the path leading directly to it, the white sheet of its descending water streaming continually before us, marking the goal to be reached. It isa six miles’ walk to the foot of the fall. A turn in the road, however, shuts it out from view for a time just before we reach it, but the roar of the falling water guides us unerringly. When we reach the foot there is a sense of disappointment. It does not look as it did when seen from a greater distance, nor is its height to be compared with what we had expected, but it is wonderful. {t falls full fifty feet over a broad, sloping precipice of black rock in three main streams, one much larger than the others, into a deep circular pool a hundred yards in diameter, and very deep. The water is almost ice cold. Thick masses of tangled shrubbery cover both sides of the vale through which it falls, an evergreen setting for this beautiful white gem. Under the shadow of high rocks on the south we rest on a cushion of leaves, with our eyes fixed on the fasciuating scene. What