the court. These four names have therefore become somewhat familiar to Europeans, as well as the first six, while the remaining four (Lungmun, Tsunghwa, Hwahien, and Tsangching) are seldom mentioned and little known.
These few particulars are here given with the object of facilitating an understanding of occasional references to places in the neighborhood, and farther to assist those unacquainted with the language, in gaining intelligence from native informants. The Chinese characters and local pronunciation of the names are also subjoined.
Nam-boi une 南海縣 Poon.yu une 番禺縣 Shun-tak une 順德縣 Tung-koon une 東莞縣 Heung-shan une 香山縣 Sun.ooy une 新會縣 Sam-shui une 三水縣 Tsung-fa une 增城縣 Lung-moon une 龍門縣 Sun-ning une 新寧縣 Tsing-une une 新安縣 Fa une 花縣The Heeptoi of Tapang is considered to be a naval officer; but it must be borne in mind, when speaking of naval forces in China, that they consist of men nowise differing from the land forces except in being accustomed to transfer themselves occasionally to war-junks, and there to do the necessary work of seamen; they are often men who have not been previously accustomed to the sea, and may be better compared to our marines, than to our naval force in general. The Heeptoi has for two or three years past been required to reside as much at Kowlung as at Typoong; and there is ordinarily a civil officer, deputed by the provincial government, residing there with him.
The following list comprises all the places on the island of Hongkong; the names being written as they are pronounced on the spot. The patois spoken on the island is for the most part like the Canton dialect, but approximating in no small degree to the Fahkeen dialect:
Chek-chu' the capital, a large town. pop. 2000 Wong-nei-chung, An agricultural village. 300 Stone-quarry-Poor village. 200 Do. 150 Soo-ke-wan, Large village. 1200 AT Stone quarry, a hamlet, 20 Heong-kong. Kung-lam, Fishing village. 50 Shek-lup, U Do. Tai-shek-ha, Hamlet. 10 Kwun-tai-loo, Hamlet. 50 Hang-heong-loo, Hamlet. 30 Soo-koon poo, Fishing hamlet. 5 Stone quarry, a hamlet. 60 Stone-quarry. Hamlet 25 00 4350 Tai-long, Hamlet, near Tytam bay. Too-te-wan, Hamlet. Tai-tam, Soo-koo-wan, Shek-tong-chuy, Thee-sai-wan, Chun-hum, Deserted fishing hamlet. Tseen-suy-wan, 淺水灣 Sum-suy-wan, 深水灣 Shelt-pae, HThe Magistrate of a district is compared by the Chinese to a little king of a country. His jurisdiction, though necessarily limited in extent, yet embraces all departments of the government: he is collector as well as magistrate, has charge of the public works and charities, presides over educational affairs; and though he possesses no military authority, it must be remembered that the military in China are placed very much in subordination to the civil power. The magistrate's power is often delegated, at important points (as at Macao) to assistant magistrates called Tsotang, whose powers are nearly the same as those of their superiors, except only in penal matters in which they must refer to him. For objects of police, portions of each district-called sza-are placed under officers called Seunkien. But, whether for police or other purposes, the villages are usually left under elders chosen by the people themselves (though assisted and watched sometimes by petty police officers), and to these elders is committed the care of collecting the taxes due from their villages, and for preserving order therein. For all but military objects, Hongkong seems to have been thus left at all times without an officer of government.
For military objects, Hongkong is included in the regimental district of Tapang (Typoong)-a town to the eastward of Hongkong and Kowlung, in Haarlem's Bay, and which is also the residence of the Tsotang, or assistant magistrate, of Siu'an. At this place is what we may call a Brigadier-in Chinese Hietae, or Heeptoi-an officer having several regiments under his command.
In the Bazaar. In the Boats. Laborers from Kowlung
Actual present population.
The Isthmus of Kowlong, or Eseemshatsuy,
contains about 800 people.
Kowlung 九龍, Taipang 大鵬, and Lye moon
are villages and places near the isthmus.
is often completely deserted, and the present influx of inhabitants depends upon the great demand for stone.
The population of this place is migratory: the place
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