Changsha, Sept. 18.
Last Saturday, having some friends who were going by motor to Siangtan and other friends who had arranged to come from Siangtan to Changsha, I thought it a good chance to have a "joy rid&" Accordingly, at 10 am. with, two ladies, a gentleman and four children, I wended my way to the motor garage on the military road and there we selected a "six-seater" and for $9, off we went towards Siangtan. The experience was most enjoyable to all of us but one—one of the youngsters had eaten something which disagree ed_and had a bad time en route.
The road gives good going all the way, which we were told was a distance of 07 li, say 32 English miles. It us of most serviceable width. not only allowing two motors to pass at any point, but in their passing by no means interfering with any other trafic. Most of the way, the road runs over a reddish clay soil and the surfacing is a mixture of clay and broken stone which ought to wear well. The scenery is throughout of a pleasing nature. Now and again, there is a stretch of quite level way; this, whenever it gets into one of the cross valleys which send some small stream into the Siang River, which is never more than half 2 mile away. But for the most part, it runs over low rolling moorland with a growth of small fir trees, apparently planta for firewood.
For the first 20 miles. the rail line runs parallel to the road and between it and the river. Although the military road'' as it is called, runs up and down for nine-tenths of the distance, there is only one gradient which is any hindrance to rapid driving. The view is never very extensive, but commands lots of low hills, and each time one of the slopes is surmounted, you get an interesting look round. The approach to both the terminal cities is one which affords a sight of them that is much more pleasing than the low view which is obtained of either when approaching by steamer.
Lirrte Care ror MacHiNery.
The actual time of running is about 1 hour 20 minutes. Once we stopped to change the water in the jacket round the machinery. The weak point of the company's work is seen there. The machinery of the cars is not being treated as it would be if subject to European inspection.
The pipes in the car; by which I travelled to Siangtan got so hot that it was very un-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.