Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 63 (Color Image)

0063	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

CHAPTER V

THE CHING LING (MOUNTAINS)

PEREIRA now entered upon one of the most en-

joyable parts of his journey, and we wish he could

have lived to describe it more adequately. It was

now the full spring of the year and he was leaving

the plains to cross the beautiful range of mountains

which divides the basin of the Yellow River from

the basin of the Yangtse. This range is known as

the Ching Ling or Sin-ling.

The first stage out of Sian took him to the foot

of the mountains. And as he was off the regular

mule track and away from the haunts of soldiers,

he found none of the usual filth at the inn, and the

doors had not been removed by the soldiers for

firewood. A mile south of Nantou Kioh the path

leaves the plain and ascends a steep narrow valley to the Tu-ti Ling (5220 feet), a rise of 2430 feet.

On the way he passed quantities of wild flowers,

including white and violet lilies, pansies and honey-

suckle. The climb was a hard one for the mules

carrying heavy loads. The traffic over the pass

is mostly carried on by coolies bearing long bamboo

baskets on their backs with a pole on which to

rest the load. On descending from the pass there

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