Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/97

 Teng-oo and the AMlarble Caves. 93

Gorge, the Marble Caves, and the Teng-oo Mountains. Each has its own peculiar attractions, and claims detailed inspection. Flowing out from the gorge, the river makes a bend towards the north, while Teng-oo, and the lime- stone hills in which marble caves are found, lie a mile or two back from the river. Between them and the high cliffs which form the northern wall of the gorge stretches a broad and fertile plain. In former years a branch of the main river flowed down through this plain, washing the foot of the limestone hills, and passing near what is called Old Teng-oo, a large island with the high eliffs along the gorge in the midst being formed. At the beginning of the present dynasty, about the middle of the seventeenth century, a heavy dam was built above the eity of Shin-hing, and the whole volume of water turned into the maim stream. In this way a large traet of valuable land was redeemed from the over-flowing water. The dykes at this point are a matter of great and con- stant concern to the people, the heavy freshets some- times breaking through them, while the river, rejoicing to find its former course, carries destruction through the plain, leaving large deposits of sand and gravel in the fertile fields.

At the mouth of Loh-yan-hang, a little creek that flows down from the hills, we find the nearest point to anchor our boat and prepare for an excursion to the monastery and waterfalls three miles distant. Mountain chairs, which consist simply of two bamboo poles, with a poard suspended from the middle for a seat, are found in waiting at the foot of the great cotton trees on the bank for those who wish to be carried. A good paved walk leads