Ningpo to Shanghai in 1857/Kwei-ling-foong to the Poosan Monastery
The village of New-Za is five miles, in a sou' westerly direction, from the Temple on the mount;—and five miles further, W. S. W. is the Poosan Monastery. On the road to this place are four Bridges, constructed by public subscription in the 3rd year of Taoukwang (as told of in a tablet by a small shrine to the God of waters, opposite Rhinoceros mount) the Chang family heading the list of contributors, a member of the clan, though professing his ability to be small, writing the inscription, and setting forth the reasons for the construction of the works.—One of these bridges, Toong-jow, is a specimen of many others in the province, constructed of granite stones, three or four feet long, dressed to a curve, and built up latitudinally. Thus, from the floor to the crown of this bridge, of 18 feet span there are only three stones on one side and two, where the side rests on a rock, on the other;—the whole arch being built with about thirty dressed blocks, packed on the haunches with unhewn stones from the brook below.
Some remarkable sand cliffs, one called precipice gate, are to be seen here, and the minerologist will find materials for research in the various soils of purple, red and other colours in the neighbourhood.
There are five resident priests at the Poosan monastery;—the Abbot's name is King-chuen. Monastic lands (the Poosan Monastery possessing 100 mow,) are not exempt from the customary impost.