Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 125

1842

Topography of Chelsing

TO*

rounding it were lofty, and broken into a variety of forms that were highly picturesque; and the valleys were richly clothed with trees of different kinds, among which three species were remarkably striking, not only by their intrinsic beauty, but also by the contrast they formed with themselves and the rest of the trees of the forest. 'These were the camphor tree, the tallow tree, and the arbor vitæ. The bright shining green foliage of the first, mingled with the purple leaves of the second, and overtopped by the tall and stately tree of life, of the deepest green, produced a pleasing effect to the eye; and the landscape was rendered still more interesting to the mind, by the very singular and diversified appearance of several repositories of the dead, upon the sloping sides of the inferior hills. Here, as well as elsewhere, the sombre and upright cypress was destined to be the melancholy companion of the tombs. Higher still among the woods, avenues had been opened to admit of rows of small blue houses, ex- posed on white colonnades, which, on examination, were also found to be mansions of the dead. Naked coffins, of extraordinay thick- ness, were everywhere lying on the surface of the ground. The Jake, which extended from the walls of the city to the feet of the mountains, and threw its numerous arms into the wooded valleys, was the seat of pleasure, as well as profit, to the inhabitants of Háng- chau. * * * Vast numbers of barges were sailing to and fro, all gaily decorated with paint and gilding and streaming colors; the parties in them all apparently in pursuit of pleasure.

"The margins of the lake were studded with light aërial buildings, among which one of more solidity and of greater extent than the rest was said to belong to the emperor. The grounds were inclosed with brick walls, and mostly planted with vegetables and fruit trees; but in some there appeared to be collections of such shrubs and flowers as are most esteemed in the country. Among the fruits we got at this place was the Jambo or rose apple; and, for the first tinic, fresh from the tree, but not yet perfectly ripe, two species of oranges, the common China, and the small one usually called the Mandar'u or- ange; pomegranates, bananas very indifferent, and melous equally bad; apricots far from being equal to those in our own country; a large plum, resembing the egg plum, also indifferent, and peaches that might have been much improved by judicious culture; apples and pears that in England we should have no hesitation in pronouncing execrably bad; and a species of fruit, unknown to all of us, which the Chinese called zee-tse, of a sweet sickly taste when ripe, other- wise most insufferably astringent. Some of the gentlemen thought