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18.12.
Topography of Kiangst
day. Four miles of the distance were accomplished, before they scemned to be more than half way to the summit, when soine of the adventurers returned, while the others steered their course up a regular pathway in one of the ravines, hoping to reach a pagoda perched up at the elevation of several hundred feet near the water- fall. In about three hours and a half, after quitting the town, they reached the pagoda-a most romantic spot. To the left of the pa- goda, and just above the water-fall, was a small temple, to which they directed their steps, and there found some priests and obtained re- freshments. They had then traveled eight or nine miles. As they ascended to this spot, they found the climate change, and observed the plants and trees which are found in a natural state in England. On a following day, a romantic dell was visited not far from the bot- tom of the water-fall, where they found “gigantic characters some feet in length," cut into the face of the native rock—“ memorials of persons who had visited the spot." On the 19th, Mr. Davis visited "the vale of the White Deer," where Chú, the great disciple and com- mentator of Confucius lived and taught. It is a secluded valley about scven or eight miles from the city, situated in a nook by the side of a rivulet. The buildings were comprised in a number of different courts, but quite plain, evidently intended for use rather than show. In a school-room were fine large tablets, on which were inscribed the five cardinal virtues. In one of the halls, the white deer was repre- sented. Near by a tree was pointed out, said to have been planted
the philosopher's over hands. This valley forms a place of pilgri- mage to the literati of China at the present day. For the foregoing particulars, and more which we might quote, we are indebted to Mr. Davis. See his Sketches, vol. II., p. 55, et seq.
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The department of Kiúkiáng,-or that of "the Nine-rivers," as the name signifies,-forms the most northern portion of the province; it is watered by the Great river, and is bounded on the east and south by the departments of Jauchau, Nánkáng, and Náncháng. It includes the most northern part of the lake, and of course was visited by the members of Amberst's embassy. In point of situation, it was the most remarkable town that had been seen by them. As they ascended the river, it lay on their left, "and might be described as nestled in a romantic valley or basin, formed by the lofty hills surrounding it. Nearly the whole of the built and inhabit- ed part was in this valley, but the walls themselves surrounded a much larger area, running up the ridges and over the summits of the hills at the sides and back of the town: while the front, or water