by Copious Showers Prose Our Own Paokl, She. Apr, 26, Since the inauguration of the rally way service at Paoki a marked increase inthe number of foreign Visitors has been noted of late, Pre viously the frst glance at the rugged, aw-loathed, southern mountains with les of privation, hardship and bandits was suMclent to scare off even the most ardent "thrill hunter.'
"The marks of famine, the dry and dusty cart roads, the deep ruts and thick mud and' the tortuous trail coupled with the lack of suitable means or transportation served as an all too' fitting Introduction to the left to the "old hands" fof, necessity, plunge un-into the mountain pass ly" onward over the lently enduring the scorching summer sun or the bitter cold biting winds of winter with tile prospect of adequate shelter nor edible food at the end of each day. Then there was always the fear of a midnight brigand ald, Once, while living ina wild and notoriously bad. area close to the junction of the Shensi-KKansu-Szechuen borders, I remember mecting with a young traveller thirsting for adventure who, accompanied Chinese guide and with a pistol tucked away In "his coat "pocket, studiously sought out all. the short roads looking for the bandits, Upon veaching civilization once more It was hig lament that he did not even meet with one, An Education ju Travel There has been considerable talk, in view of the dimeculties experienced gotting down river from Szechuen, commencing to use old trade oF fearavan route from Chengtu to Hanchung fu and then north to the end, This journey would be an education in Itself, well worth any rouble and expense involved, The frst half of this Journey would be made entirely through the mountains until the traveller at last bursts forth upon the, fertile, prosperous Hi chung plain through the pass made by the upper reaches of the Han river, "THe northern mountains are entered at Paocheng where a substantial steel bridge across the mountain torrent that flows by the base of the famous Chiteokuam saves the traveller a sti limb over the pass and makes provision for motor traffic along "the river valley inside the mountain area.
The scenery 1s beautiful, fronded palms and green undergrowth wave the breeze to the symphony of the mountalg torrent now flowing. into deep pols of every hue from deep {green or blue to a churned mass of troubled waters as the stream pours. over the boulders and stones in its course—and everywhere the friendly peasant and the massive mountains.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.