Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 549

1850.

Journal of Occurrences.

5.09

The area of the region drained by the Yellow river is not far from 720,000 square miles, equal to that part of Europe lying west of a line drawn from Trieste northward to Stettin. Its entire length is computed at 2480 miles, but a straight line would not measure over 1300 miles. How far it is navigable is not known, though it is pro- bable that goods can be carried from Páuteh in the north of Shánsí to the Grand canal, a distance of about 1100 miles. No falls of any height are mentioned as occurring in this part of its course, while the general descent of the country, and the great rapidity of the cur- rent, render the return of boats almost impossible. The introduc- tion of powerful steamers will we hope erelong make known the ca- pabilities of this river, and open up the country lying along its banks as far as they can ascend.

ART. VI. Journal of Occurrences: H. B. M. S. Mariner's visit to

Japan; cultivation of tea in the United States; emigration of Chinese to America; memorial respecting disturbances in Kwùng- si; insurgents in Kwángtung.

HER B. M. ship Muriner's visit to Japan made in April, 1849, is noticed in the proceedings of the Geographical Society of London. This cruise was taken after the return of the Preble from Nagasaki, and the treatment the Mariner received in the Bay of Yédo is an advance in good manners on that experienced by the Columbus.In regard to the remark made in the pa- ragraph here quoted that the court of Peking has granted the free navigation of the Sagalien river to the Russians, we should like to have some further corroboration, for it is new to us. If Dr. Gutzlaff is the authority for it, per- haps it was intended to be classed with the hope expressed in the sentence preceding it respecting the free commerce of China and Japan with the rest of the world. The paragraph is from the Athenauin of March 2d, 1850:-

A letter from Commander Mathison, of H. M. S. Mariner was communicated by the Admiralty. In obedience to orders from the Commander-in-chief, Coin- mander Mathison proceeded in H. M. S. Mariner to the coast of Japan, and an- chored off the town of Uragawa, twenty-five miles from the capital of the em- pire, and three miles farther than any other vessel of a foreign nation had been allowed to proceed. The Mariner sounded all the way across and along the shores. "The Japanese interpreter on board having inforined the authorities of the object of my visit, I sent my card, written in Chinese, ashore to the go. vernor, requesting him to receive my visit; to which he replied, that, out of courtesy to me and curiosity to himself, he would have been delighted to pay me a visit, and also entertain me ashore, but that it was contrary to the laws of the country for any foreigner to land, and that he, the Governor, would lose his life if he permitted me to proceed any farther up the bay. When about eight miles from Cape Misaki, which forms the southwest end of the bay, ten boats, man- ned with twenty armed men and five mandarins in each, caine alongside. I al- lowed the mandarins to come on board, when they presented me a paper, written