As it flows gently, the iron, though almost imperceptible to the touch, may be seen in light streaks on the yellow sand beneath. The stream here flows from the eastward, and the course to a small hamlet of 30 families called Ding-wong, is along its left bank for two or three lé. Half a mile further from this place the road to Shang-chune breaks away to the southward, through a defile clothed with firs and called Shung-Kay-ling. It was stated at page 12 that the Kwei-ling-foong was the boundary of the Fung-wha and Sing-chong. There, too, commences the—
DEPARTMENT OF SHAU-HING.
Shang-chune is a thriving little town, and here, at stalls by the Road side, the traveller finds excellent wheaten flour pancakes, so cheap that a hearty meal can be made of them for the merest trifle. The process of manufacturing these pancakes is simple. An earthenware pan is filled with a stiff batter of flour, water, salt and eggs, and in this the manipulators, old women generally, dip the fore fingers and spread, or rather smear the batter lightly over the hot pan;—one spread one way, one the other, a second's delay and the food is cooked; coming from the pan as crisp and delicious as Hebrew passover cakes. Prepared in stacks a foot high, they are sold by the catty, or singly as required. Similar pancake stalls are found in and for several days of travel beyond the district city of Sing-chong, and are extensively patronised by way-farers from the hills A stream, not the iron washing, is met with at this place, its course from the hills being almost due south, and
