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.—Page 2.—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.—
"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,—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:—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—for it is often applied in surgical cases.—A merchant who lived during the period of the Tong dynasty had an ulcerated tumor on his left arm, just below
