The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-04-30
Scenes in the Flowery Kingdom.

The following is an interesting account
of an excursion from Hoikow, the port
on the northern shore of Haman, near
the town of fKiungchow, China. The party
of four assembled the Tingan or Kienki-
ang river proceeding past Kiungchow, to
Bakshiang miserable village of few
huts, but still starting place for the up.
river traffic. The Hoikow river boats
are described as follows: Meeting one
it would seem from distance that high
pole supporting a very large rectangular
sail, fixed into long narrow log of wood,
was approaching, for both the size of the
sail and the length of the boat, some
forty-tive feet, are quite out of proper
ton to the breadth, about seven feet.
Being fiat-bottomed and the draught of
water only few inches, it is admirably
adapted for travelling over the shadows
up-rlver. The mode of progression is by
sail, wind permitting; otherwise by
yulohing, should the water be sufficiently
deep; by polling; by manual tracking
along the bank with the tow rope at
tached to the masthead, or may be by two
or more of these methods combined. )"
With fair wind the travellers sailed on.
ward against the swift-fowing current
''each bend of the broad river seemed to
open up views more and more interesting
and beautiful, and scenery at times rival
ing in beauty even that of the ever-fa-
nous Rhine itself. The water nearly as
blue as the clear azure sky overhead, the
river banks thickly clad with foliage of
all tints and hues sloping gently to the
waters edge; solitary farm houses, above
which lowered the majestic palm, seen
embowered amid the trees; glimpses of
silvery waterfalls dashing down rocky
ravines; cattle basEing in the sunshine;
butfaloes disturbed in their muddy bath
that raised their ugly heads above the
water with an angry snort of disapproba-
ton at our approach-all added liveli-
ness and rustic charm to the picture,
and tended to enhance the pleasure of
the excursion. The town of Liento
was reached shortly after noon. Two
photographs having been taken of the
party as future reminiscence, the yelp-
ing dogs were let loose, and start was
made for a little shooting. Unfortuna-
tely the sport was not good, owing to the
thickness of the covert, and only doves,
squirrels, and a single deer were seen.
On our way back we visited the potteries
for which Liento has more than local
fame. We strolled down long rows of
storehouses in which were slowed away
an immense collection of earthenware ar
ticles of household use, in size varying
from the water kang to the small saucer
used to hold the Chinaman's lampwick
and oil. Mounds some 100 feet in
height had been thrown up, and on
their sloping sides five tiers Of kilns had
been constructed, under each of which
wood furnaces were lighted, the smoke
issuing from the uppermost. The native
potter, the color of the clay he worked
in, @ated himself on the ground with
one leg on each side of wooden disk,
which he kept in motion by his feet, and
while we were present threw off jars of
various shapes and sizes, all seemingly
being made with the same ease and ra-
pidity. 1t was with no little reluctance
that we had to leave so interesting a
sight. Late in the evening we started
on the homeward journey, and we
reached Haikow without any mishap at
early morning.-Public Opinion.