ht. Seeing
a man entering it carrying a small oblong bundle, wrapped round with
bamboo straw, they followed him. Tom and Gerald, getting off their
horses, entered the building. Round it were shelves, on which a number
of similar bundles were seen; a pair of small feet sticking out of one
of the bundles revealed to them the contents, and upon further inquiries
from the man they ascertained that it was the "baby tower," in which the
remains of infants whose parents were too poor to afford an ordinary
funeral were deposited, and that when it was full it was cleared out by
the municipal authorities.

"What wonderfully methodical people these Chinese are," said Archie;
"but they certainly have curious ways of doing things."

The road over which they passed was well made and the country highly
cultivated, with corn and paddy fields and gardens full of vegetables
and fruit trees; ditches full of water to irrigate the ground ran in all
directions, and over them were picturesque bridges, the larger ones of
stone, and the others of wood or bamboo. People were at work in the
fields, or employed in turning water-wheels, to raise the water to
higher lands. The cottages were low, full of windows, deep caves, and
so lightly built that it seemed as if a moderate gale would blow them
away. The midshipmen had gone a considerable distance, much further,
indeed, than they intended, but everything looked so peaceable that they
could not fancy there was any risk, as they concluded that the rebels
must be a long way off.

At last, getting hungry and thirsty, they looked about in the hopes of
discovering a tea-house where they might obtain refreshments. Meeting a
few peasants, as they seemed, by the road-side, they inquired by the
usual language of signs where they could get something to eat. The men
pointed to the west, and signified that they would soon come to a
village where they could obtain what they wanted.

"Probably it is not much further; let us ride on," said Charley Roy.

They galloped forward, and were not mistaken, a good-sized village
appeared in sight, and one of the first houses in it was of the
description they were in search of. The host chin-chinned as they
approached, and welcomed them to his establishment. Having fastened up
their horses in a stable close at hand, where food and water were given
them, they entered a tea house, and cakes, biscuits, and sweetmeats,
with tea in wonderfully small cups, were at