beyond. The European traveller has no reason to complain of difficulty in getting along in this quarter. Dings, substantially roofed sheds, through which the roads run, open to all, are to be found at nearly every mile, and within them, or not far distant, are shops for the sale of good wheaten flour pancakes at two cash each, fresh boiled sweet potatoes at five cash a catty, rice congee at 2 cash the half pint basin, and a liquor not unlike stale small beer, a potation not over agreeable to all palates, fermented from rice, and sold hot at eight cash the gill. Hot gruel stands ready in some of the dings, Chinese taking it either as gruel at 2 cash the half pint basin, or, flavoured with soy, chopped onions and small dried shrimps as a soup, at 3 cash the basin. Half a dozen of the pancakes, and a couple of basins of the soup, form a good meal for a moderate man, and with five cash worth of tea can be obtained at a total of something under twelve cash—a penny. Hot water standing ready, the five cash worth of tea has a good many brewings when the traveller is thirsty before the leaves are thrown away.
The plain between Singchong and Dzing, bounded by huge granite bouldered hills, is studded with numerous villages—the stream bed winding here and there among the mulberry trees deep enough for bamboo rafts laden with bean cake and charcoal for more eastern markets
Two lé W. by N. from Dow-chee is Wong-nee-joh a small hamlet of 20 families, and a lé N.W. is Yuen maou, with 50 families. Many of the inhabitants of this quarter appear to be blind, or weak in the eyes; and no greater kindness can be shown to the poor creatures in passing than the gift of small parcels of blue vitriol, with written directions for dilution and use.
