Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 332

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Topography of A ́nhwui.

JUNK,

meaning any part of a river where the stream divides into two so as to compass an island in the middle." Mr. Davis speaks of the Chi- nese conductors being afraid to proceed along the open breadth of the Great river while the wind was high, and he was surprised at the in- feriority of the sailors there to those at Canton. "The boats were almost as different as the boatmen; for while the Canton vessels are strongly built and capable of buffeting the waves, the great square boxes, clamped with iron at the corners, in which we were at present embarked, seemed really to justify the apprehensions of their con- ductors." While there he had repeated rambles on shore, and saw the agriculturists cultivating rice, cotton, buckwheat, &c. Having passed A'nking on the one side, and Tunglau on the other side of the river, they visited Hwayuen chin, "the flower-garden station," where they "made an excursion along the side of the river to a small wood, consisting principally of green hollies, and several of the young members of the party trespassed so far on the lord of the ma- nor of the Flower-garden station as to cut themselves some walking sticks." On the 11th, a soldier of the embassador's guard was drown- ed, and was buried the next day: "the whole squadron then set sail, and proceeded along one of the branches of the river, which was divided by a long island into two streams. Towards evening we ap- proached a very singular rock, famous among the Chinese under the name of Siáukú shán, the “Little Orphan hill," rising precipitously fom the water to the height of between two and three hundred feet." On its summit were some buildings belonging to priests of Budha : and the sides and summit of the rock were absolutely darkened with the countless swarm of pelicans, closely resembling the fishing bird of the country.

V The department of Táiping also lies on the southeast side of the river, extending from the department of Chichau to the province of Kiangsú. Its three districts, commencing with Tángtú on the north- east, succeed each other, as you proceed to the southwest, going up the river. The chief city of Wúhú hien, Mr. Davis says, is "a very considerable town, the largest of its class in China. The streets proved on inspection to be superior to those of many of the first class cities; and some were as large and as well furnished with handsome shops as those at Canton. It is to the great inland commerce carried on by this town, that such unusual wealth and prosperity are to be referred." Here he saw bales of cloth with the E. 1. Co.'s mark upou them. These were brought inland from Canton, a distance of about sts hundred miles. Here too he visited a pagoda aud several temples.