AMHERST MISSION
(Continuation)
The Amherst embassy stopped here in the beginning of July, and we can sympathise with the references Dr. Smith made to the weather. He mentions a great deal about his impressions of the south of the island, and is worth quoting in brief. The rocks on that side of the island were found approaching to basalt in compactness of structure. In ascending the principal mountain which was nearby (now Mt. Kellet) he followed the course of a delightful stream which he found rising near its summit, and was much struck by the extreme barrenness of the face of the mountain, and indeed of every part of the island which he was able to visit. However, basing his opinion on the large number of ferns he adds that "at a distance it appears to be fertile". He was unable to reach the summit of the mountain he states, because of the excessive heat which as early as eight o'clock in the morning had raised the thermometer to 83 degrees in the shade, while the sun's rays, to which he was necessarily exposed, darted through an unclouded atmosphere with an almost intolerable effect, and raised the mercury to 120 degrees.
Those early impressions of a Hongkong summer might have been written to-day, we can easily understand that the commentator found his hill-climbing in the July sun a strenuous affair.
17
On his way down, Dr. Smith followed a path, which he describes as leading over a small hill, or rather mound different in structure from the rocks in its neighbourhood being composed of very friable stone of reddish white colour much resembling disintegrated felspar. (We know nowadays that decomposed granite and granitic rocks compose the bulk of Hongkong's geological material).
He describes the general scenery of the island as composed of barren rocks, deep ravines and mountain torrents (he was here in the rainy season) with few characters of a picturesque kind. The only inhabitants he saw were some poor weather-beaten fishermen spreading their nets, and drying the produce of their toils, on the rocks which supported their miserable huts. The cultivation he saw corresponded with the apparent state and number of the population - patches of rice, small plantations of yams, and a little of what he calls buck wheat, were all their miserable means of vegetable support.
As regards the anchorage itself, at that he terms Hong-kong Sound, Dr. Smith mentions that naval men described it as affording admirable shelter for ships of any burden.
It is interesting to find such an old chronicle of the island, however meagre, and to realise that the "barren island" description at the time of the British occupation a quarter of a century later, was decidedly appropriate.
AMHERST MISSION
(Continuation )
The Amherst embassy stopped here in the beginning of July, and we can sympathise with the references Dr. Smith made to the weather. He mentions a great deal about his im- pressions of the south of the island, and is worth quoting in brief. The rocks on that side of the island were found approaching to basalt in compactness of structure. In ascending the principal mountain which was nearby { now Mt. Kellet ) he followed the course of a delightful stream which he found rising near its summit, and was much struck by the extreme barrenness of the face of the mountain, and indeed of every part of the island which he was able to visit. However, basing his opinion on the large number of ferns he adds that " at a distance it appears to be fertile 專業 He was unable to reach the summit of the mountain he states, because of the excessive heat which as early as eight o'clock in the morning had raised the thermometer to 83 degrees in the shade, while the sun's rays, to which he was necessarily exposed, darted through an unclouded atmos- phere with an almost intolerable effect, and raised the mercury to 120 degrees.
Those early impressions of a Hongkong summer might have been written to-day, we can easily understand that the commentator found his hill-climbing in the july sun a strenuous affair.
17
On his way down, Dr. Smith followed a path, which he describes as leading over a small hill, or rather mound different in structure from the rocks in its neighbourhood being composed of very friable stone of reddish white colour much resembling disintegrated felspar. (We know nowadays that decomposed granite and granitic rocks compose the bulk of Hongkong's geological material ).
He describes the general scenery of the island as com- posed of barren rocks, deep ravines and mountain torrents
he was here in the rainy season ) with few characters of a picturesque kind. The only inhabitants he saw were some poor weather-beaten fishermen spreading their nets, and drying the produce of their toils, on the rocks which supported their miserable huts. The cultivation he saw corresponded with the apparent state and number of the population- patches of rice small plantations of yams, and a little of what he calls buck wheat, were all their miserable means of vegetable support.
As regards the anchorage itself, at that he terms Hong- kong Sound, Dr. Smith mentions that naval men described it us affording admirable shelter for ships of any burden.
It is interesting to find such an old chronicle of the island, however meagre, and to realise that the " barren island" description at the time of the British occupation a quarter of a century later, was decidedly appropriate.
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