EMBASSY TO CHINA IN 1794-5. [page no.] 159
gins already to shew itself above the surface.
The level of the land is at least ten feet above the
surface of the canal, and intersected by large
canals and ditches full of water. The ground,
which is of an argillacious nature, appears very
fertile and of easy cultivation. The corn here
has a thick stalk, and large and numerous leaves,
which are a sufficient proof of the goodness of
the soil.
I observed that in some fields, and in particular
spots, the corn was sown in little furrows eroding
each other at right angles; in others the seed
was set in a right line by means of a drill (Semoir);
and Iastly, there were some places, but a very few,
which appeared to have been sown by the hand,
as with us, and in general in narrow beds, with
little paths between them, as in the kitchen-
gardens of Holland. All these diversified plan-
tations cheer the eye, and the whole is as free
from weeds as our pleasure-gardens.
As far as the eye could reach the whole
country was crowded with farms and habi-
tations; and signs of abundance and prosperity
were every where visible. The houses were all
built of bricks and covered with tiles. There
seemed however to be a scarcity of cattle; for
during
