Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 523

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

1942.

Kulangsu and Amoy.

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stretching southward from Quemoy; and others northward from the easternmost point of the southern main, narrow the entrance; and the junk, as she glides inwards with her broad face and square form, ap. pears to be entering a long funnel-at the base of which, on the western side of the bay, is to be seen the little island of Kúlángsú

古浪嶼 distinguished by a pile of rocks forming its summit.

Above it, further westward, are to be seen other higher hills,--and beyond, towering above them the mountains of the mainland.

Such are the general outlines of Amoy and Kúlángsú. For the few notices which follow, the reader is indebted to the Rev. David Abeel, who has kindly allowed us to draw freely from a manuscript journal. In company with the Rev. W. J. Boone, Mr. Abeel left Macao in a lorcha (a Portuguese boat) on Wednesday, 2d Febru- ary, 1842, for Hongkong, where they cinbarked on the Australian Packet, and from thence sailed Monday the 7th of that month. On the 13th, they came to anchor off Namao, an island near the coast, situated on the line between this province and that of Fukien. It is one of the principal stations for those ships which are engaged in the opium trade on the coast of China. It was the 24th of the month when they reached Amoy, nor had they any opportunity of seeing much of the mainland.-For an account of the coast of Chinu, the reader is referred to the sixth volume, page 8th, and the sequel.

A letter from the plenipotentiary, sir Henry Pottinger, to major Cowper introduced the missionaries to that gentleman, then acting cominandant of the island, who, with captain Smith of H. M. S. Druid, showed them much kindness in many ways. From among the many unoccupied houses, one, within the British lines on Kúlángsú, was selected for the missionaries, and without much trouble or delay was fitted up for their residence. Both of them being already familiar with the Fukien dialect, they were enabled at once, both to commence their appropriate labors, and to render important aid as interpreters and translators to their friends, both English and Chinese.

On the 31st of March, they made their first visit to the city of Amoy, where they were kindly received. They passed through several streets, which appeared quite like those of Canton. The number of vessels in port was something more than 200, though several had removed to other harbors, since the place had fallen to British arms.

On the 10 h of April, Mr. Boone left Kúlangsú to return to Macao, for the purpose of removing his family to Fukien.

On the night of the 14th an alarm was sounded by the drum and bugle, and the troops were in a few moments ready to repel attack,

ve, Xử N IX.

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