426
Notices of Chusan.
AUG.
i
*
quarried to almost any extent from the neighborhood of Sin-kong, on the western coast, and delivered in Chusan bay by water convey- ance at an economical rate. No limestone is of course procurable on the island, and the small quantity of lime which is used by the natives is obtained from shells of the Ostrea tribe, which it is probable abound among the islands of the archipelago. Sand also is not procurable on any of the coasts, but a supply may be obtained from several of the islands, which are exposed to the direct wash of the sea; it is however scarce, and generally speaking not well adapted for making mortar: The clay formed by the decomposition of the trap ranges, and washed down by the numerous streams, makes ex- cellent bricks."-The following observations of lieut. Ouchterlony refer to a few points along the coasts of China and Leaoutung.*
C
Commencing with the southern province, called Kwangtung, the capital of which is Canton, we may observe in the promontory and head-lands of Macao, the extremity of a range of granitic hills, which appears to run to the north-eastward, being there connected with higher and more important chains at the distance of about 70 miles in- land. Extending from the boundary of this province, and forming the seacoast as far as Namoh, there appears to be a continuous but rugged range of igneous rocks, much dislocated and broken up in various parts, but preserving the same general characters throughout. Fur- ther north as at Amoy, these rocks assume a trappean appearance, and the provinces of Chekeäng and Keängsoo, as far north as the estuary of the Yangtsze keäng, seem to be traversed by lofty but ir- regular ranges of hills and mountains of an igneous or perhaps vol- canic nature, having a direction nearly due north and south. ...The group of islands forming the Chusan Archipelago, has already been described, as composed of ancient volcanic rocks. Our infor- mation now becomes imperfect as far as Shantung province, but from analogy it is reasonable to suppose that the same system of rocks continues along the coast, as far as the northeastern extremity of that province, which forms the southern arm of the bay of Cheĭhle. The continuity of the same rocks seems evident from the geological character of the Ta-koa and other scattered islands in the narrow gorge at the entrance of the bay, indicating a connexion with the high ridges in the opposite district of Leaoutung in Tartary.
[
J
The great alluvial plains of Cheihle next require notice: they are bounded by the trap ranges of Tangchow foo to the southeast, and
Subsequent observations show that sand may be procured in several of the small bays, &c., in different parts of the island.