Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/840

832 There are many sights of interest. A swinging bridge of boats across a branch of the River Han leads to the famous Han San, a mountain looming green and high, with bamboo groves and clusters of ferns on its sides. Here is situated the ancient temple of Han Kung Tze, dedicated to the manes of Han Boon Kung, a sage and philosopher, who flourished under the Tung dynasty. There are some classic inscriptions on the massive granite slabs, and with great difficulty impressions of them have been obtained for inclusion in this work. The temple is now a Government school: the idols have been removed, and in the stately halls sit young lads imbibing from foreign teachers the wisdom of the West.

The great Buddhist temple of Kwanyin, the goddess of heaven, is situated in the heart of the city, its gate guarded by four huge monsters, hideous of mien, and grotesquely carved. Worshippers chew paper, and throw the pellets at the bodies of these monsters, fully believing that luck will follow if the pellets stick. The image of the goddess, of cunning workmanship, is secluded by embroidered hangings and gilded screens, and high up in the mystic rafters hangs an enormous bell of full and silvery tone. A kitchen, erected four hundred years ago, contains seven huge iron pots and cauldrons, wherein former generations of monks boiled their rice and water.

The mountain Kam San may be reached in chairs, and from the summit, approached by steps, an enchanting view unfolds itself. What is now a Government high school, in the neighbourhood of the mountain, was at one time occupied by General Fong, who, though himself a sybarite of the first order, maintained such perfect discipline in the district by cutting off the heads of thousands of malefactors that his name has become a byword for justice and cruelty. The mountain is strongly fortified; nests of modern guns being concealed under evergreens and waving banana trees.

The Sai Fu temple is renowned for the deep cuttings in the solid rocks, containing, in addition to the usual moral maxims of Confucius, a number of pieces of poetry made and cut by amateur poets, inspired by the genii of the mountain and the compelling beauty of the surroundings.

A short distance to the north of the city are located the widely known hot and cold mineral springs of Jao Ping, accessible in a few hours either by chair or boat. The journey from Cha'o-chow-fu occupies seven or eight hours, and the traveller is well repaid by the beauty of the scenery in the neighbourhood of the springs. The waters are charged with sulphur, soda and other minerals and with natural carbonic gas, and have valuable therapeutic properties. The town of Jao Ping itself is without much interest, its inhabitants, for the most part, being engaged in agriculture.

, the Taoutai of Chao Chow, was born in the Yunnan Province of China in 1860. Educated at Peking, he secured the highest degree of the Chinese Imperial Academy (Han Lin Yuen Phien Shui). He was appointed Censor of Peking and Judge of the South Gate, and was afterwards promoted to be Censor for informations and Memoralist of the provinces of Kiangnan, Shantung, Kweichow, and Chihli. Then he became Chief Examiner's Assistant and Censor of the Punishment Department of Peking (Chi Su Chong), and in May, 1906, was appointed by imperial decree to be the Real Incumbent of the Hui, Chao, and Chia Prefectures and Districts, and Taoutai of Swatow. Arriving in Canton in November he presented himself to the Viceroy Chou and was asked to act temporarily as Taoutai at Kau, Lui, and Yang Prefectures. While still in this office he was invited to serve temporarily as Taoutai of the Chung Yai Prefectures, but, owing to urgent affairs in the Kau, Lui, and Yang districts, he could not take up this appointment and, being recalled to Canton, he was Acting Provincial Treasurer and Financial Commissioner for three months, after which he entered upon the duties of the post to which he had been originally appointed by imperial decree. He is now the highest Chinese authority in the prefectures and districts under his control. Owing to his careful supervision, the police force in Chao Chow and Swatow, which was formerly under mercantile administration, has been brought to a high standard of efficiency His Excellency has recently issued a proclamation to the newly organised police force of Swatow to level the roads and reconstruct a bridge for the convenience of the carriages plying from the Chao Shan railway station to the town of Swatow. He is also organising a Clearing Thoroughfares Department, and is engaged upon several other important and necessary reforms. He is a straightforward,