Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/209

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Rare Earth

For the most part the scenery was composed of burial grounds and small farms, groups of picturesque trees and rice-fields. But there was no sound worth listening to. The house-boat interlude slumped off into a period of dreadful monotony for Scobee. So profound was his dejection he felt as though he could stand it no longer. Hung Long Tom noticed his restlessness and at once suggested returning to Shanghai.

Next they visited Hangchow, five hours by rail from Shanghai wherein is situated the oldest drug-shop in the world. It is nobody knows how old. Here in jars one may find every queer drug known to the ancient men of Cathay, even pulverized dragon claws, powders for evil thoughts, powders to awaken love. But there was no powder to cure blindness so Scobee and Hung Long Tom continued on.

They visited West Lake, "The Thunder Peak Pagoda," "The Island of the Three Pools" and "The Cave of the Purple Cloud."

Though the names were beautiful there were

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