As we left the Chengtu plain behind us, the fields became ever drier and parched again. and the crops looked entirely withered up. About neer we crossed by ferry at Mien-yang. a branch of the Kialing River. which enters the Yangtze at Chungking. From here on the road enters the mountains and, stiff climbing begins again. We passed through the small town of Weicheng, a centre of the silk industry, as was apparent from the number of large flat baskets with cocoons lying everywhere, even in the middle of the street from where they had to be removed before the car could proceed. Early in the afternoon we climbed to the picturesque pass óf Chichukuan (Seven Windings Pass) which is famous im "Chinese history. The modern motor-road follows here the old' strategical highway between Shensi and Szechuen. and for the rest of the day the road ran for long stretches between avenues of beautiful old cedars which are said to have beer planted in Ming times.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.