AMHERST MISSION I
There is something that captures the imagination in thinking of the members of the Amherst embassy to China and the crews of the squadron which accompanied them, and anchored off Aberdeen in 1816 - coming ashore on the south side of Hongkong and exploring what was then a "barren" island, and known chiefly as the resort of fisherfolk and pirates. Yet it is possible that they were not the first Europeans to land on this island, for European contact with the Far East goes a long way back, and there is reason to believe that Hongkong's good harbours (including all the bays along our coastline) and freshwater streams were known to earlier navigators. We can easily imagine the crews of sailing vessels putting in at Shekpaiwan (as our Aberdeen was known in the old days) for water. There was at one time a considerable water-fall there, but the "training" of the stream, damming and diversion into the reservoir which has since been built, did away with a picturesque feature of local scenery.
Reference to this waterfall is made by Dr. Clarke Abel Smith, who accompanied the embassy in 1816, and it was actually thought of sufficient interest to paint. I reproduce a photograph of a painting, made by one of the company, T. Fielding. A coloured mezzotint of the original painting is in the Chater Collection, and is a beautiful production. The photograph is of this mezzotint. It is entitled "Waterfall, Hongkong," and dated 1816.
Dr. Smith mentions that the vessels anchored in Hongkong Sound, as it was then known, near the village which we now call Aberdeen. He speaks of the bay or sound as being "formed by several small islands, by which it is land-locked on every side, and of which Hongkong is the principal.” Speaking of Hongkong, he comments.
'As seen from the deck, this island was chiefly remarkable for its high conical mountains rising in the centre - and for a beautiful cascade, which rolled over a fine blue rock into the sea.'
It is this cascade which is here illustrated, and it seems almost a pity that later developments and water conservancy should have robbed the Colony of what, evidently, was a fine scenic attraction. Incidentally, the "fragrant streams" origin of the name of the island may be justified by this waterfall. The picture is undoubtedly the earliest painted of any part of the Colony, and survives as a valuable link with the past.
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AMHERST MISSION I
There is something that captures the imagination in thinking of the members of the Amherst embassy to China
and the crews of the squadron which accompanied them, and anchored off Aberdeen in 1816 - coming ashored on the south side of Hongkong and exploring what was then a "barren" island, and known chiefly as the resort of fisherfolk and pirates. Yet it is possible that they were not the first Europeans to land on this island, for European contact with the Far East goes a long way back, and there is reason to believe that Hongkong's good harbours (including all the bays along our coastline) and freshwater streams were known to earlier navigators. We can easily imagine the crews of sailing vessels putting in at Shekpaiwan ( as our Aberdeen was known in the old days ) for water. There was at one time a considerable water-fall there, but the "training" of the stream, damming and diversion into the reser- voir which has since been built, did away with a pictures- que feature of local scenery.
Reference to this waterfall is made by Dr. Clarke Abel Smith, who accompanied the embassy in 1816, and it was actually thought of sufficient interest to paint. Í reproduce a photograph of a painting, made by one of the company, T. Fielding. A coloured mezzotint of the original painting is . in the Chater Gllection, and is a beautiful production. The photograph is of this mezzotint. It is entitled "Waterfall, Hongkong," and dated 1816.
Dr. Smith mentions that the vessels anchored in Hongkong Sound, as it was then known, near the village which we now call Aberdeen. He speaks of the bay or sound as being "formed by several small islands, by which it is land-locked on every side, and of which Hongkong is the principal.” Speaking of Hongkong, he comments.
'As seen from the deck, this island was chiefly remarkable for its high conical mountains rising in the centre - and for a beautiful cascade, which rolled over a fine blue rock into the sea. #1
It is this cascade which is here illustrated, and it sens almost a pity that later developments and pity water conservancy should have robbed the Colony of what, evidently, was a fine scenic attraction. Incidentally, the "fragrant streams" origin of the name of the island may be justified by this waterfall. The picture is undoubtedly the earliest painted of any part of the Colony, and survives as a valuable link with the past.
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16
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