CHAPTER IX.

THROUGH THE WEST OF KUEI-CHOW TO THE YANG-TSZE.

The advantages of scholars _en route_ to Examination--Highroad converted into a reservoir--Quartered in a chimney--Intolerable inquisitiveness--Travellers, beware of T’ang-t’ang!--The Yün-nan-Kuei-chow border--Lakes and their drainage--Again among the Miao-tzŭ--The valley of the Ch’i-hsing River--Bark paper--“Heaven’s Bridge” and its mining catastrophe--The copper traffic--Across the Ch’ih-shui River into Ssŭ-ch’uan--Over the Hsüeh-shan Pass--A child of nature--A refractory roadside deity--Down the Yung-ning River--A narrow escape--Down the Yang-tsze to Ch’ung-k’ing 147