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92 manner, and that, as some writers inform us, it never for a moment lies idle, for such is not the case."

To this may be added that the boat people of Kiangsoo appear to live almost entirely on the young sprouts, a delicious oleaginous vegetable; but almost too powerful for an European traveller's food.

2.&mdash;Page 2.&mdash;Dr Macgowan, our fellow traveller, the highest botanical authority in this part of world, has kindly furnished the following information regarding this Peo-moo, or Pei-mü bulb, as gathered from the Chinese Pharmacopœia and his own experience.&mdash;

"Its name is derived from its resemblance to a cowrie, a shell which was used for money in China until about the third century of our era. Two kinds are in use,&mdash;one from the province of Sze-chuen, the other the product of the mountainous parts of the department of Ningpo, The former are the size of the smallest cowries; white, of farinacous fracture, and slightly bitter:&mdash;the latter is half as large again, and of brownish color. It is recommended in a host of complaints, but used chiefly in those of the air stoppages. It is of undoubted utility in coughs, promoting expectoration, and uniting demulcent with tonic properties. I am aiming to introduce its culture, and also its medical use into the West.

"As you need a popular, not a professional character of the Pei-mu (Cowrie Mother) I may mention an instance of its external employment&mdash;for it is often applied in surgical cases.&mdash;A merchant who lived during the period of the Tong dynasty had an ulcerated tumor on his left arm, just below