Page:Ningpo to Shanghai.djvu/43

Rh of the region being that of a picturesque woodland; interspersed with what foreigners are used to call triumphal arches. These are square stone uprights, with lintels and plinths, intended to commemorate the virtue of some by-gone hero, or heroine. Widows who have lived virtuously are much honoured after their decease by memorials of this kind; indeed the majority of these ornaments appear to have been erected for such a purpose.

Still continuing W. N. W. the road runs over one or two hills on which tea is grown, though not in large quantities, for five miles until the foot of the pass called Shih-meaou-ling is reached. Here, for at least one good day's plodding, the traveller bids adieu to level country, and mounts and descends flights of steps and rugged paths till head and foot are well a-weary. Straw shoes for the Chinese pedestrians are in great demand here. The price of them, with straw wisp sandals, is only ten cash, or under a half-penny a pair. For baggage carriers they are a bad substitute for a shield to the foot, and are apt to cut the toes or create blisters. The women in this quarter, even of the poorest class, wear head ornaments of jade stone set in gold and blue feathers, resembling lockets, in the centre of a tiara of black silk, satin, or common cloth;and though used to working in the fields with the men, are all cramped into the detestible small foot system.

Half a dozen miles beyond the pass is the village of Keu-zhin of 100 families. At this place there is a temple, and two fine arched bridges of cobbled stone. After leaving Keu-zhin the road runs through a rocky glen, with one or two beautiful water falls, to the hamlet of Seang-ming, of 30 families. The distance from Keu-zhin to this 