226 KITAN. Pass * of " Scale-the-heaven ; to the east and west of which is a series of mountain& Clouds were so dense on the pass, that it seemed 843 if darkness had set in, and nothing could be seen at even a short distance. The only things visible were yellow clouds and white grass in endless succession^ This Pass is called by those going to Kitan fche "Home-sick" Pass ; for, looking south- ward, it seems to the traveller as if it were impossible ever to . return. The attendants wept bitterly as they went down its north side. Twenty days further journey brought him to ShangJdngf (Upper Capital), called Silow, with villages round about In the city he found a Hanlin magistrate, besides Siwtsai, (graduates), Buddhist and Taoist monks and nuns, handi- craftsmen, actors, conjurors, — ^all Chinese, mostly from Pingchow, Fungchow, Yowchow, and Kichow ; cities in Chihli and ShansL There were houses, and merchandise by barter, but no money. From Shangking, several hundred li eastwards, is Pingchuen, where he first tasted water-melons. It was said the Kitan got the seed when devastating the land of Whichi to their north- west Eastwards still was Hiangtan, where the traveller first saw willow trees, and where wild flower and water scenery was very beautiful. There was one plant, Siji, of great beauty, ten of whose roots sufficed to feed a horse. Still advancing, great mountains were entered ; and twenty days further on were houses and tombstones, indicating the Kitan imperial burial-placa Beyond this to the east, not far firom the sea, was Tiedien, the water of which is brackish and of a bloody colour, requiring to be left long standing in jars ere drunk. The Niijun are further east still, excellent archers, who imitated the sound of the deer
- In 1690, an army went against the Mongols, marching north through Jangjiakow
(Kalgan) pass; one day*s march, 60 li beyond, was Jolomiao; next day, 60 H, to Shnbalatai ; third day, 50 11 crossing DabsJian ling or Pass, 30 11 high ; the path, for a considerable distance, being only 4 or 5 feet wide. Height is estimated by the time taken from the foot to the top of the mountain. This is probably "Scale- Heaven " Pass. And the hon. Mr Hoo could not have gone more *^»^ 50 li a day. t Sitt, of Liaotung states that this capital was north-west of Gwangning. If so it must have been difficult of access, for the ordinary 60 li per day will bring the traveller in 20 days from Peking to Moukden.
