F
9
356
Cattle and sheep supplied.
Description of city as seen from the west.
Water.
Vegetable products.
Trade.
Anchorage.
Tide.
Climate.
To-Kee.
8
and the following day sent 3 cows, but said the bad weather prevented his bringing more. We bought 6 fine sheep on shore at 24 dollars each.
I took a walk with Captain Bythesca and 4 Sappers, all armed with revolvers under our coats, and went to the west of the city, opposite the West Gate.
On this side, as well as on the south, the whole town is completely commanded by hills, sloping down to the walls. On the south, the city wall runs a little way up the hill, and this portion of the interior space is not built over. The city contained many large buildings, but apparently very many are in ruins.
There is a large yellow-roofed Yamun, in good repair however, near the S. W. angle. There is also an old ruined building near the N. Gate, much like the 5-storied Pagoda at Canton. There are, as usual, very fine trees in the town. The East Gate appears in bad repair; the others all good. That at the south is of a curious blue colour.
There appears to be a portion of the interior of the city contained within an inner wall, near the S.W. angle, probably the grounds of the yellow-roofed Yamun. This colour designating a building enjoying imperial favour.
The walls appear to be about 4 miles round.
The ground outside the walls is all open and sandy. There are occasional narrow gullies through which the surface water is carried off, but the country is perfectly practicable for anything.
There is no supply of water except from wells. This water appears good, and from the porous nature of the upper stratum, I should imagine there must be abundance of water in the wells. What we tasted out of one was very good and cold. We saw sheep and bullocks. I think but few of the latter would be obtainable, as the Chinese only rear them for labouring purposes.
Beans, peas, and corn are grown here.
There appears no trade going on, scarcely a junk to be seen; a good many mules and ponies on the hills, but hardly any life outside the city.
There is an excellent bay for landing to the west of the town, but no harbour for ships.
During a southerly wind they are safe, but a north wind would be dangerous, as the headlands are very rocky. There is also an extensive spit running out for a distance of a mile from the shore to the east of the town.
This place does not present so good a situation for occupation as "Chec-foo," but it is easy of capture, and being evidently a city of ancient importance, its capture in these regions might have a beneficial effect, and having got into it we might refrain from spoiling it on the production by the Mandarins of a plentiful supply of cattle for our troops, on receipt of which we might move off.
Rise and fall of tide, 5 feet.
The weather was very pleasant whilst at Teng-choo-foo, except on the 20th, when there was a strong very hot southerly wind. Thermometer up to 89°, and barometer 29'6. Violent thunderstorm and heavy rain succeeded at 6 P.M. which lasted near two hours.
Next day the wind shifted to the north and fell light. Sailed at 2 p.m. 21st July.
Reached "To-kee," one of the "Mia-tao" Islands, about 2 P.M. 22nd July. We had been told there were plenty of bullocks here. The gun-boats had been sent on here to water. There is a good well on the S. of the island.
Landed and said we wished to purchase bullocks.
They gave the usual answer that they had none, on which we hinted that if in the course of our walking over the island we should happen to meet with any cattle, they could of course have no objection to our catching them. They immediately asked how many we wanted, and offered to bring us off eight and some vegetables.
On the 23rd we walked over a great part of the island, but saw none, nor was there any pasturage for any number of cattle. The only animals we saw were donkeys.
On one of the gun-boats applying for cattle, they brought off a donkey in a boat for them.
The island has a sandy soil, and is high.
The rains are carried off by gullies cut out deeply in the loose soil, and quite dry now. I imagine the water all runs off immediately. The island grows Indian corn, wheat, peas, and beans. It is about 7 miles round.
The natives brought off 7 bullocks first and later 4 more, for which we paid eight dollars each, or about 3d. a pound. The people were civil, but did not like us to enter the villages.
Sailed from "To-kee" at daylight on 24th July. Wet morning. Barometer 29.84; thermometer 75°. Very cool.
July 26th.-Arrived off the Great Wall and pulled to the shore. Asked for fresh provisions. Two blue-buttoned Mandarins came down to the beach and asked what we were doing up here. We said we had sick on board, and were cruising to avoid the hot weather. We asked after the head Mandarin, but they told us he was a man sent up by the Commissioner at "Tung-koo” (at the mouth of the "Pei-ho"), that he would not see us, and if we had anything to say we had better go down there to say it. They said their orders were to treat us as friends, but not to allow us to land.
July 27th.-Sketched outline of hills. Boats sounded.
Went on shore and saw the same Mandarins. They promised to let us have what provisions they could spare next day. Saw several of the Tartar Cavalry. They are mostly armed with a sword and a matchlock, which they charge with ten slugs. Their powder is very coarse.
The ponies much the same as at Canton; some rather better. Other Tartars had spears, and some bows and arrows; but I did not see these close.
One officer had a European sword with steel scabbard. We asked to be allowed to walk on the wall, but they would not hear of it.
July 28th. The "Starling" having arrived, signalled her to anchor in a position indicated, as also the "Forester."
Took bearings, and got distances by sound and flash of gun, and laid down positions; took angles.
29th. Surveyed coast line for 9 miles, and plotted in work.
Description of "Ning-hae."
Ning-hae is the name of the city near which the Great Wall runs down to the sea. It is retired about 2 miles from the beach, and is situated on an extensive undulating plain of sandy soil, highly cultivated. The plain appears
F
9
356
Cattle and sheep supplied.
Description of city as seen from
the west.
Water.
Vegetable pro.
ducts.
Trade.
Anchorage.
Tide.
Climate,
To-Kee."
8
and the following day sent 3 cows, but said the bad weather prevented his bringing more. We bought 6 fine sheep on shore at 24 dollars each.
I took a walk with Captain Bythesca and 4 Sappers, all armed with revolvers under our coats, and went to the west of the city, opposite the West Gate.
On this side, as well as on the south, the whole town is completely com- manded by hills, sloping down to the walls. On the south, the city wall runs
little
way up the hill, and this portion of the interior space is not built over. The city contained many large buildings, but apparently very many arc in ruins.
a
There is a large yellow roofed Yamun, in good repair however, near the S. W. angle. There is also an old ruined building near the N. Gate, much like the 5-storied Pagoda at Canton. There are, as usual, very fine trees in the town. The East Gate appears in bad repair; the others all good. That at the south is of a curious blue colour.
There appears to be a portion of the interior of the city contained within an inner wall, near the S.W. angle, probably the grounds of the yellow-roofed Yaman. This colour designating a building enjoying imperial favour.
The walls appear to be about 4 miles round.
The ground outside the walls is all open and sandy. There are occasional narrow gullies through which the surface water is carried off, but the country is perfectly practicable for anything.
There is no supply of water except from wells. This water appears good, and from the porous nature of the upper stratum, I should imagine there must be abundance of water in the wells. What we tasted out of one was very good
and cold. We saw sheep and bullocks. I think but few of the latter would be obtainable, as the Chinese only rear them for labouring purposes.
Beans, peas, and corn are grown here.
There appears no trade going on, scarcely ajunk to be seen; a good many mules and ponies on the hills, but hardly any life outside the city.
There is an excellent bay for landing to the west of the town, but no harbour for ships.
During a southerly wind they are safe, but a north wind would be dangerous, as the headlands are very rocky. There is also an extensive spit running out for a distance of a mile from the shore to the east of the town,
This place does not present so good a situation for occupation as "Chec- foo," but it is casy of capture, and being evidently a city of ancient importance, its capture in these regions might have a beneficial effect, and having got into it we might refrain from spoiling it on the production by the Mandarins of a plentiful supply of cattle for our troops, on receipt of which we might move off.
Rise and fall of tide, 5 feet.
The weather was very pleasant whilst at Teng-choo-foo, except on the 20th, when there was a strong very hot southerly wind. Thermometer up to 89°, and barometer 29'6. iolent thunderstorm and heavy rain succeeded at 6 P.M. which lasted near two hours.
Next day the wind shifted to the north and fell light. Sailed at 2 p.m. 21st July.
Reached "To-kce," one of the "Mia-tao" Islands, about 2 F.M. 22nd July. We had been told there were plenty of bullocks here. The gun-boats had been sent on here to water. There is a good well on the S. of the island.
Landed and said we wished to purchase bullocks.
They gave the usual answer that they had none, on which we hinted that Cattle in &mals if in the course of our walking over the island we should happen to meet with Frumbers. any, they could of course have no objection to our catching them. They immediately asked how many we wanted, and offered to bring us off eight and some vegetables.
On the 23rd we walked over a great part of the island, but saw none, nor No pasturage. was there any pasturage for any number of cattle. The only animals we saw were donkeys.
On one of the gun-boats applying for cattle, they brought off a donkey in a boat for them.
The island has a sandy soil, and is high.
The rains are carried off by gullies cut out deeply in the loose soil, and
ducts.
and quite dry now. I imagine the water all runs off immediately. The island Vegetable pro- grows Indian corn, wheat, peas, and beans. It is about 7 miles round.
The natives brought off 7 bullocks first and later 4 more, for which we Price of beef. paid eight dollars each, or about 3d. a pound. The people were civil, but did not like us to enter the villages.
Sailed from "To-kee" at daylight on 24th July. Wet morning. meter 29-84; thermometer 75°. Very cool.
Baro-
inhabitants.
July 26th.-Arrived off the Great Wall and pulled to the shore. Asked Off the Great Wall. for fresh provisions. Two blue-buttoned Mandarins came down to the beach and asked what we were doing up here. We said we had sick on board, and were cruising to avoid the hot weather. We asked after the head Mandarin, Behaviour of but they told us he was a man sent up by the Commissioner at "Tung-koo” (at the mouth of the "Pei-ho"), that he would not see us, and if we had any- thing to say we had better go down there to say it. They said their orders were to treat us as friends, but not to allow us to land.
July 27th.-Sketched outline of hills. Boats sounded.
Went on shore and saw the same Mandarins. They promised to let us
have what provisions they could spare next day. Saw several of the Tartar Tartar cavalry, Cavalry. They are mostly armed with a sword and a matchlock, which they charge with ten slugs. Their powder is very coarse.
The ponies much the same as at Canton; some rather better. Other Ponies and Arms. Tartars had spears, and some bows and arrows; but I did not see these close.
One officer had a European sword with steel scabbard. We asked to be allowed to walk on the wall, but they would not hear of it.
July 28th. The "Starling" having arrived, signalled her to anchor in Commenced sur-
veying.
a position indicated, as also the "Forester."
Took bearings, and got distances by sound and flash of gun, and laid down positions; took angles.
29th. Surveyed coast line for 9 miles, and plotted in work.
Description of "Ning-hae."
Ning-hae is the name of the city near which the Great Wall runs down to "Ning-hae.” the sea. It is retired about 2 miles from the beach, and is situated on an extensive undulating plain of sandy soil, highly cultivated. The plain appears
C
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