Tsow Hien, our next stage, is a city with all the most pleasing characteristics of a Chinese landscape. The exquisite pagoda, the fine old grey walls, and the picturesque range of hills lying beyond the city, make a picture so completely Chinese as to satisfy the most ardent worshipper of all that is pleasant in the peculiar style of the Flowery Kingdom. In the range of hills lying behind Tsow Hien there is one mountain of historic fame, the loftiest of the range, a high peak seen from a great distance, called the Yih Mountain. In the well-known Tribute of Yü this mountain is spoken of as the part from whence was brought in tribute to the emperor the wood of a famous dryandra tree, celebrated for the purpose of making lutes for the imperial palace.

At the present day this hill still has attractions for the traveller on account of the stones that take the forms of so many different things. One rock is said to be exactly like a drum, another like a bell. We did not explore the hill and its wonders, but pushed on to the southern suburb.

I had a personal interest in wishing to visit the Temple of Mencius, which is situated in this town Through all my residence in China I had constantly heard of Meng Mu, the mother of Mencius.