And there are few better ways to enjoy the rugged bleakness of the fells than from a nice warm train, especially when the weather's constantly changing as the day slips away.

King of common herbs or rare / Not a mole is here to scare / Sheepsorrel of barren soil / And Soldier's Woundwort — harsh Milfoil

South of Hang-chou Wan (Bay) below Shanghai, the China coastline changes from a smooth, flat topography to one of irregular, rocky promontories and numerous islands. Foochow, the Fugiu of Marco Polo, dates from the seventh century. Offshore the Ma-tsu Lieh-tao (Matsu and Pei-kan, or Changshu Islands) are heavily fortified Nationalist strongholds.

They heated up tinned food in a saucepan of hot water and ate it with sadness and disrelish, under the belief that they were economising.