it to about a fourth of its cube. The drying houses are low buildings with walled ovens in the centre, and fed from the outside. To the exterior of these walls, as they slightly slope in from the base, the sheets are lightly pressed, and left until they dry and drop off, after which they are placed in stack, ready for market. This paper is often used in the lieu of horse-hair or straw for plaster work, and sells for 2,400 cash per pecul of 100 catties. A good deal of paper is made from straw, too, in this quarter, and also farther along on the borders of the River Tsien-tang. The good white paper seen in Shanghae is manufactured at Soo-chow, and, though of better fabric, is dearer than that made in the south.
From Shih-chong, still travelling W. N. W. the road runs through a continuous series of mountain passes; the rocks in some places lying up and down in heaps in admired confusion;—foaming brooks and water-falls adding the highest grace to the all-romantic scenery. Some of the timber cut here resembles the beech for closeness of grain, and would serve admirably for stocks for carriage wheels. In lengths of ten and twelve feet, large stacks of it are to be seen in the streams, of on their banks awaiting transport to a mart. So difficult is it for the charcoal carriers and native travellers in these defiles to obtain food, that they usually carry it, (cold rice and greens,) in small bags, and eat by the way side.
Nieu-koh-san four miles and a third from Shih-chong, is a small hamlet of 20 families; and, still ascending—still ascending—the next place reached, Tan-chay-woo, by a small arched bridge, numbers only three families. At the Ding here, the traveller misses the customary idol; but in place of it finds paintings of gods and goddesses,—red capped and clubbed hunters, and venerable ladies. The
