Sketches from Formosa.

WELCOMED BY THE TSARISEN TRIBE
that an intimate knowledge of one would furnish a key
for the easy acquisition of any other, and even itself be
of service for communicating with many
thousands of
the people.
High as the village of Pun-tih stands of Ka-piang
also, for that matter it was pleasant to observe the
abundance of cool, clear water with which the inhabitants
were supplied. We relished it all the more on this
occasion, because there was no attempt to offer us any-
thing more substantial ; the hint being dropped that,
having ourselves come empty-handed,
the Chief and
her councillors thought it best to discountenance so
objectionable a precedent by withholding all commissariat
supplies. They could not, however, prevent
our eyes from feasting on the truly grand scenery spread
nor from seeing two other
before us in every direction ;
snug little hamlets away on the other side of the valley,
and within only a pleasant walk from our head-quarters
at Ka-piang.
As next to nothing could be done in the way of speaking
to the people, an immediate return was decided upon.
We felt very hungry indeed ; had once more to go down
the one side and up the other of that great inevitable V ;
while another evening among the people at Ka-piang
seemed to be the best way of turning my visit to most
account. Our friends gladly welcomed us back again,
and spoke in rather a complimentary way on the rapidity
with which we had performed our short, although somewhat
difficult journey. I expressed my desire to visit
about a little more, and was pleased to see that no further
objections were raised ; that, on the contrary, virtue
was made of a necessity, and an arrangement come to
that the Head of the tribe herself, with Ku-a-mih, and a
number of young braves, should accompany me on a visit to
the two villages we had seen from the outskirts of Pun-tih.