THREE YEARS' WANDERINGS
IN
THE NORTHERN PROVINCES
OF
CHINA.
London:
Spottiswoode and Shaw,
New-street-Square.
WANDERINGS IN CHINA
THREE YEARS' WANDERINGS
IN
THE NORTHERN PROVINCES
OF
CHINA,
INCLUDING
A VISIT TO THE TEA, SILK, AND COTTON COUNTRIES:
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE OF THE CHINESE,
NEW PLANTS, ETC.
With Illustrations.
LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.
1847.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Introduction.—Erroneous Notions regarding China.—Nocorrect Sources of Information.—Information gleaned fromthe Chinese not to be depended upon.—ImaginativePowers of Authors on China.—Peculiar Traits in theCharacter of the Chinese.—Remarks on Agriculture andSoil.—On Government and Laws.—China has beenretrograding for many Years.—My own Experience.
CHAPTER II.
First View of China and the Impressions produced.—Contrastedwith Java.—Land at Hong-kong.—Descriptionof its Harbour.—Town of Victoria.—Chinese Towns,Stanley and Aberdeen.—Description of the Island.—Effectsof Rains.—"Happy Valley" noticed.—Chinesemode of "Stopping the Supplies."—Views from the tops ofMountains.—Climate.—Botany of the Island.—FewAnimals indigenous.—Unhealthiness of the Settlement.—ItsCauses.—Character of the Chinese Population.—MixedCharacter of Foreigners.—Remarks on the Settlement as aPlace of Trade.
CHAPTER III.
Leave Hong-kong for Amoy.—Opium Station at Namoa.—Libertythe English enjoy there.—Chinese Population, andtheir Modes of living.—A new Admiral makes new Laws.—CherryBrandy alters his Views.—The Account which,as in Duty bound, he sends to Peking.—Natural Tunnelthrough Chaple Island.—Amoy.—Remarks on its Trade.—Travelsin the Country amongst the People.—Thewant of a Tail.—The Hills.—Island of Koo-lung-soo.—Effectsof War.—Strange Rocks.—Unhealthy Nature of[Pg viii]the Island.—Botany and Birds.—Visit to one of the ChiefMandarins.—His House and Grounds.
CHAPTER IV.
Leave Amoy.—Gale in the Formosa Channel.—Driven backto Chimoo.—Chimoo Bay.—Chinese Mode of payingTaxes.—Character of the Natives.—Journey to the Hills.—ChimooPagoda.—Interesting Scenery.—Attacked androbbed.—My Servant's Opinion of the State of Matters.—Getback in safety to the Shore.—Novel Mode ofcrossing the wet Sands.—New Plants found.—The Bay ofChinchew.