But what was my surprise on looking myself to find the whole country deeply under snow, and that it was still snowing.
All day, indeed, it snowed.

The track was very slippery, but my mule, though obstinate, was sure-footed, and we kept going.

We passed a huge coffin--borne by a dozen men with every gentleness, not to disturb the dead one's rest--preceded, not followed, by mourners, two of whom were carrying a paper sedan chair, which would be burnt, and so, rendered invisible, would be sent to the invisible world to bear the dead man's spirit with becoming dignity.

All day we were in the mountains travelling up the bed of a creek with mountains on both sides of us.

We passed Chehki, ninety li from Tongchuan, and thirty li further were glad to escape from the cold and snow to the shelter of a poor thatched mud inn, where we rested for the night.
A hump-back was in charge.