Ningpo to Shanghai in 1857/Ching-zek to Ching-koo-yuen
DEPARTMENT OF KIA-HING.
A short distance East of Ping-bong is Hing-wong; and between that and the hamlet of Sow-Dee, twenty miles or so further east, the traveller passes the villages of Sah-ca-coong, Tah-sean-wo See-cheng,—Loa-fae, or Loo-chae (a place of 1,200 families) and Jow-woo-sah.
The black slime from the stream bed takes the place of manure in this quarter. The mode of obtaining it is ingenious. To the end of a stout bamboo a piece of concave wicker work is attached—a similar piece of wicker work being so fixed that when the stout bamboo thrust on the bottom has taken out a scoop of the mud, by the pressure downwards of a lighter bamboo the wicker concave collapses like a clamp shell, and confines the slime until it reaches the surface, when, by pinching together the light and stout bamboos, as we would a pair of tongs, the clamp opens, and the contents are emptied into a boat, whence, along side the bank, it is transferred to the shore, by means of a basket swung with ropes through the sides, by two men one at each end of the boat.
Ching-zeh is large town three or four miles N.E. of the hamlet of Sow-dee spoken of, and here may be seen, in quantity, the bamboo articles of furniture sold at the Consular ports and about the northern country—such as chairs, stools, baskets, lamp-stands &c. Bread is not to be obtained at this town—but plenty of bean "fixins" such as curd cakes, smoked twist &c., are exposed in the stalls. Tobacco is grown and cut, too, here. On the whole, there is a quiet air of business in the streets, speaking great things for the thriftiness and content of the inhabitants.
Eight or Nine miles N.E. of Ching-zeh is Sam-pah-dong, a batch of red coloured houses on an islet in a lake; a lofty lamp post serving to render it the light house for some miles around. Five or six miles further on is a fine town called Che-ka-kwok. Though not formally walled, the houses have lofty backs, and join together, so that it is not possible to get into the streets excepting by guarded ways. The great feature of the place is a splendid five arched granite Bridge—the centre arch being over 35 feet in span.
PROVINCE OF KIANG-SU.
DEPARTMENT OF SUNG-KIANG.
Tsing-poo-yuen (or Tching-koo-yuen as it is called by the inhabitants,) the chief city of the district, is about 5 miles N E. of Che-ka-kwok. It is another of the 1,600 walled establishments, and though small is a neat place—The walls, brick over stone, are in very good condition, and are entered at the north and west sides direct from the water—there being hardly room for a coffin between the wall and the stream.