assembly, and every honourable trade or skilful | The bridges thrown over them are steep, and are handicraft into a formidable confederation against the peace of society and the welfare of the state; as it profanes all religion and mocks at all control,-leading not only to Sabbath-breaking, swearing, intoxication, gaming, violence, and open fraud, -not only to prostitution and to the violation of temperance and chastity under every form-not only to a refusal of the practice, and a settled resignation of the very name or semblance, of the fear of God-but to declared and deliberate impiety, and the most undisguised and scornful atheism. This, I say, your utmost exertions have left, alas! not alone unsubdued, but without an adequate, however alarming, delineation of its enormities. Enough certainly has been exposed, to teach you that you live in the midst of pollutions, such as no eye could endure to look on, and of perils such as no fortitude could steadfastly contemplate.-Rev. Dr. McAll. ascended by steps like the Rialto. The streets are narrow, and partially exclude the rays of the genial sun. The houses are low, and, not being provided with glass windows, nor with fire-places after the European fashion, they afford the weak and sickly stranger little in the shape of accommodation. The town was formerly full of shops, and presented a scene of activity, as every one was intent upon the pursuit of some calling or means of livelihood. The harbour of Chusan extends from north to south about a mile, but is nearly three from east to west. It has four entrances, formed by Tea Island and its sister knolls; but these entrances are so completely shut in by the remoter points, that the harbour resembles a lake surrounded by hills, and constitutes a very pretty panorama. It is near the thirtieth parallel of latitude; hence in June and July the sun's rays fall with great force upon the heads of the inhabitants who happen to be exposed to their influence. It is about thirty miles from Ningpoo, one of the most trading places in the Chinese empire, and less than thrice that distance CHUSAN AND THE CHINESE EXPEDITION. from Hang-chow, which stands near the bason NO. I. MOST of the islands belonging to the Chusan group consist of hills rising with a regular slope, and terminating with a broad and rounded summit. They rest upon a foundation of grey or red granite, which resembles porphyry, except in hardness. They seem to be the remains of the continent, or, to speak with greater geological precision, hills, around whose bases the ocean plays. They are separated by channels of great depth, though in many cases very close to each other. The currents are very diversified ; but as every island affords a harbour, ships, in threading their way among them, can easily find an anchorage when the tide is too strong or the wind unfavourable. whereat the Grand Canal terminates. It is a little more than a hundred miles from the entrance of the Yang-tsze-keang, the great artery in the commercial intercourse of China. It is therefore the best point of an insular kind that could be chosen for securing to ourselves an ample share in the traffic of the " Middle nation," as the Chinese are wont to call their country. 1. From The unhealthiness of our troops at Ting-hae seems to have arisen from three causes. a want of fresh provisions, which in a warm climate is very keenly felt. 2. From bad accommodation, as the dwellings of the place are not constructed with a view to comfort in cool weather, however pleasant they may be in hot. 3. From moist The principal island, which gives its name to the depositions occasioned by the rice-fields. Of the group, is about thirty miles long, and about one- three causes just stated the last has been the most third of that distance in breadth. Its surface is influential, since the prevailing diseases were varied by pleasant heights and well-tilled valleys, diarrhoea, dysentery, and fevers; maladies which and appears to be very desirable as a place of are the usual consequences of living for any length abode, both as to its amplitude and natural scenery. of time in a damp and marshy situation. At The city of Ting-hae, its capital, is situated within a Whampoo, about twelve miles from Canton, where mile of the large open village or suburb built along foreign ships anchor to discharge and receive their the shore. The road from one to the other lies cargoes, seamen suffer greatly from the same disover a plain, which is intersected with rivulets and orders, because a part of the surrounding country canals in different directions. The walls are thirty is flat and rendered irriguous by artificial means. feet high, and overtop the houses which they en- The Chinese are not strangers to the effects of circle. Square stone towers stand about a hundred these "waterish" plains upon the health, but go yards from each other along the walls. In the so far as to ascribe one moiety of their diseases to parapets are embrasures for cannon, and in the this cause. One set of diseases, say they, in their merlons or spaces between them are holes for binary classification, arise from the disturbance in archery. The gate is double, within which was a the equilibrium within the body; the other, from guard-house, furnished, before the arrival of the the "injurious cold.” It is the cold of these marshy British, with bows, pikes, and matchlocks. Ting- flats which occasions a condensation of moisture hae bears a humble resemblance to Venice, as it so unfriendly to health, and so calculated to check is surrounded as well as intersected by canals. | and impede the functions of the skin. The mias CHUSAN AND THE CHINESE EXPEDITION. mata, or unwholesome effluvia, which steam from such places, may have some share in the production of disease; but at the highest estimation it is only subordinate and secondary. 25 25 might be removed at once; while the third might be disposed of by filling up the unnecessary canals, elevating the low land, and compelling the water to run in a very few channels for the drainage of the soil. Thus every cause tending to the prejudice of a settlement at Chusan would be obviated, and could we maintain it, might deem ourselves on the point of entering upon a noble career of usefulness to the Chinese as well as to ourselves; since from As the island of Chusan is hilly, and not alluvial like Tsung-ming isle, which couches at the mouth of the Yang-tsze-keang, it must be naturally healthy, and can only be rendered otherwise by artificial causes. It is easy to see that the first and second causes assigned for disease in a foregoing paragraph | such a point we might disperse not only the manu factures of this country, but the gospel also, with the discoveries and improvements of useful knowledge, the hints and outlines of philanthropic schemes, besides a thousand stimulating thoughts which our example would suggest. Schools might be established for the training of Christian Missionaries; hospitals opened for the relief of the sick and the education of native practitioners; a college erected for the study of the Chinese dialects, to which foreign students might repair and enjoy the advantage of native instruction, combined and co-operating with the more lucid and logical system of the English professor. In short, there is nothing of a commercial, religious, scientific, and philanthropic kind, which might not be done with facility at Chusan. But it is but fair, however, to state, that the realising of these goodly prospects is suspended upon an hypothesis, which is of a very untoward and questionable character. We can enjoy the fulfilment of our hopes, IF the Tartar government will permit the Chinese to visit us. This it would not do, for two or three obvious reasons. Mortified at our intrusion, it would feel the strongest inclination to discountenance those who patronised our market; while the underlings of office, taking ad vantage of this feeling, would harass with penal- | the schemes of philanthropy. It is our firm con ties, delays, and exactions, all who engaged in the viction that in taking up our abode in China, we must not only provide for our own defence, but throw the arm of our protection far enough to cover those natives who deal with us. We must not merely take care of ourselves, which is the first law of nature, but also of our friends, which is the second. To do this we must select a spot upon the main-land, and when we have done so proceed with a bold hand to take and maintain our position. PORT NICHOLSON. G. T. L. EXTRACT of a Letter by a Settler, dated Britannia, Port Nicholson, New Zealand, Sept. 11, 1840:- "Port Nicholson is a capacious bay, and is capable of containing an immense number of vessels, being at least five miles by three: vessels cannot ride very close to the shore owing to the shallow beach, which runs a considerable way into the bay, the water not exceeding five feet in depth; and as we are subject to tremendous gales of wind from the south-east and north-west, the surf runs very high, rendering it impossible at such times to launch a boat without incurring the danger of dashing it to pieces. When there is no wind the bay presents a most beautiful appearance, the water being as smooth as a lake; while on nearly every side it is surrounded by steep and lofty mountains, descending to the edge of the water, and which are covered to their tops by shrubs and trees, so that there is scarcely a barren spot to be seen. This tranquil scene is frequently changed in the space of a few minutes. A strong breeze suddenly springs up from the south-east, and before any one who may happen to be in a boat has time to reach the shore, the surf breaks on the beach violently, and he is fortunate if he escapes with only a soaking. I think I may safely say that two days scarcely ever elapse without a strong breeze blowing from one or other of the above-mentioned quarters, and frequently so tremendously that some of the boats which were hauled high up on the beach have been blown over and over till completely smashed. On our getting on shore we found that there was no land ready for us, the surveyors having arrived only a few weeks before us. The spot fixed upon was beyond a flat leading to a valley, which ran a considerable way up the country in a north-easterly direction, and through which valley ran a most beautiful river of the finest water. The valley, like the bay, was hemmed in by high mountains, which were a continuation of those around the bay, and likewise covered to their summits by lofty trees. The valley is not more than three miles in width in the widest part, and frequently diminishes to one, and in some instances comes down to the PORT NICHOLSON. bed of the river, thus almost closing us in from the other parts of the island. The flat next to the beach, and which narrows into the valley, consists of a cinereous-coloured sand to some depth, almost covered with flax and fern. From the sandy foundation there is no doubt that at one time the sea covered the whole portion of the flat, and I am inclined to think the valley also, as on digging a few feet we found similar sand. The greater portion of the flat consists of a bog, through which you must proceed to reach the valley. On passing the bog, a small creek presents itself, which flows into the river it is about the width of the New River, but not quite so deep, and when we first reached it we were obliged to cut some shrubby wood and throw into it to enable us to pass it, and even then to go up to our knees in water. As soon as you have passed the creek, an entirely different scene presents itself: instead of the sandy soil and stunted shrubs and flax, there is a rich loamy soil, the flax reaching to the height of from fifteen to sixteen feet, and trees begin to rear their heads, while the underwood is so thick that in most places you cannot proceed one yard without cutting your way with an axe. The most curious plant is what the English call Supple Jack,' a species of creeper, which curls round the trunks of the highest trees, and then, descending from the branches, takes root again, forming an almost impassable barrier to your progress-one taking you round the throat, while another has your foot entangled, so that you can scarcely move till you cut through some of the branches. In this valley, on each side of the river, it was resolved the town should stand; and as we were unable to have our town acres, (which were not surveyed, as mentioned before,) and as we looked upon any spot we might fix upon as merely temporary, and more especially as it would take some weeks to unload the ship, we set to work in clearing the ground; and as the weather was delightful, we constructed a temporary dwelling of the straight poles we cut, and which we tied together with flax, and the sides of the houses had the broad leaves of the flax to protect us from the weather. As we had a tarpauling, which was thrown over us as a roof, we were tolerably secure from the rain, though many an English summerhouse might be considered a palace to it. Those who had no tarpauling were obliged to content themselves with a roof of flax, which was to all parties invaluable. There was not a dwelling which was nailed together-every rafter, every pole, was tied with flax, which served almost all of us for walls, roofs, and carpets. For the first few nights many slept without roofs, the stars shining brightly on them, and every one was happy, and spent the day in finishing the house he had begun. But, alas! a heavy rain fell, and their roofs were not able to protect them from its effects. Father, wife, and child presented a miserable appearance, while 27 their goods, which had already been damaged by the salt water, were exposed to the weather. Nor was this all. As the rain continued we found that the river kept rising, the rushing and roaring of the water increasing, till at last it overflowed the banks in some parts; and as most of the party had built their houses on lower ground than the banks, they had the agreeable variety of being the whole day up to their knees in water; and one woman was actually delivered of a child, the doctor standing in the water all the while. We, fortunately, escaped this time, being on higher ground. It was impossible to select a high spot before you cleared, as you could not see five yards before you for the shrubs, so that it was a mere matter of chance whether you got on higher ground than your neighbours. But we could not boast of our security long. We had had rain on the Friday and Saturday, but on the Sunday the sun shone brightly, and we congratulated ourselves that this time we should escape. But we were deceived. The fresh water descended from the mountains to the river, and the banks were overflowed. Our fire-place, which was in the open air, had a joint of pork roasting before it, and the pudding was boiling in the pot, when, by degrees, the water approached, and now put out one branch that was alight, and then another; still we thought the tide would every moment subside, and we kept the pork dangling before the few branches which the water had not quenched. But we were doomed to be disappointed-ember after ember was put out, and the meat half-roasted, the pudding half-boiled. We were obliged to remove everything in the dwelling that would spoil, and which was on the ground; some things we piled on our sofa-bedstead, deeming them at least safe, though shortly we had to move bed and all. Part of the wooden house which had been brought from England was up, and raised about two feet on piles on higher ground; hastily putting on a few boards for a floor, and throwing some on for a roof, we passed the night, as you may imagine, not very agreeably, the rain finding its way through in several spots. The natives are very friendly with us, and, as we treat them with kindness, they frequently bring us potatoes or some of their fruit. They are remarkably honest. Though the 'Aurora' had discharged the greater part of her goods before we reached Port Nicholson, and which remained on the beach for weeks without protection, not a thing was taken, and it was not till some runaway sailors from the English vessels had landed that any package was broken open. On the 25th of August a party of Europeans were crossing the bay, when they were overtaken by one of those sudden and powerful south-east winds I have alluded to, and were within fifty yards of the shore, when the boat was capsized and ten persons were drowned. The natives rushed into the water through the surf, at the hazard of their we were awoke by a tremendous crashing of our house, and found ourselves rocked and raised in our beds from the effects of an earthquake. We were much alarmed, and rushed out of the house, not knowing but that the house might fall; but fortunately no damage was done. Several shocks have been felt at different times, and the natives say they are common. We are in good health, notwithstanding all our disagreeables: few are unwell, and medical men have little to do here.New Zealand Journal, April 24. THE OPIUM-SMOKER. than the bestiality of the latter. lives, and succeeded in bringing most of the bodies on shore, though unfortunately too late to restore them to animation. They evinced the utmost feeling at the melancholy accident, and the females shrieked and wept over the graves as if they had lost their own relations. The medical gentleman who came out with us, and who is a person of most amiable manners, cured several of the natives of disorders they were afflicted with. In return, they bring him potatoes, pork, fruit, and indeed everything they can procure; they have built him a house, and attend him wherever he goes, carrying his portmanteau or gun, as if an obligation was conferred on them by being allowed to do so. While writing this, two of his attendants came to inform us that the doctor was going to the Bay of Islands; they were almost inconsolable, the female crying, ONE of the objects at Singapore that I had the believing she would never see him again. We curiosity to visit, was the opium-smoker in his can scarcely persuade them that he will soon heaven; and certainly it is a most fearful sight, return. We had not been a week on shore when although perhaps not so degrading to the eye as the a strange native asked me to lend him my gun and drunkard from spirits, lowering to the level of the powder and shot, and made signs that he would go brute, and wallowing in his filth. The idiot smile and kill birds for us. I lent it to him without and death-like stupor, however, of the opium dehesitation, and he returned shortly with some wood-bauchee has something far more awful to the gaze pigeons, which we cooked for dinner, he partaking with us. Though the native lives two or three miles off, he is a frequent guest, and never comes without bringing us some present. He is tall, and gentlemanly in his deportment, and it is impossible to conceive that such an individual can be a cannibal; indeed I believe that there is not a cannibal in New Zealand, whatever there may have been. The climate, taken altogether, is delightful, though we have had more rain than I expected. The winter is not severe, and ice is not often seen, and disappears by ten o'clock; and the sun at noonday is so warm that you could scarcely believe there could have been ice in the morning. The most unpleasant weather is when the wind blows from the south-east. In the winter we had a heavier flood than the one I have described, but, as the house was raised on piles, it did not reach the floor, though there was a regular stream flowing under us. Most of our neighbours were driven away towards the beach, where they constructed fresh huts. Our house was crowded for some days, and at one time we had four families, and two pigs, besides cats and dogs, as there was not a spot of ground to be seen for the water. In consequence of this, it was resolved to have the town on the other side of the bay, which necessarily delayed the allotment of land; and it was not till August that the town acres were ready for selection. If In the houses devoted to their ruin, these infathe bed of the river was cleared of the immense tuated people may be seen at nine o'clock in the quantity of timber that lies in it, and the bank was evening in all the different stages; some entering raised in the lower part, the water would be car- half distracted to feed the craving appetite they ried into the bay without the liability of the valley had been obliged to subdue during the day; others being submerged. To give you a few more of our laughing and talking mildly under the effects of agreeables, I may mention, that one day we had a the first pipe; while the couches around are filled flood, in the evening seven or eight houses were with their different occupants, who lie languid with burnt to the ground, and at five the next morning | an idiot smile upon their countenance, too much The rooms where they sit and smoke are surrounded by wooden couches, with places for the head to rest upon, and generally a side room is devoted to gambling. The pipe is a reed of about an inch in diameter, and the aperture in the bowl for the admission of the opium is not larger than a pin's head. The drug is prepared with some kind of conserve, and a very small portion is sufficient to charge it, one or two whiffs being the utmost that can be inhaled from a single pipe, and the smoke is taken into the lungs as from a hookah in India. On a beginner one or two pipes will have an effect; but an old-stager will continue smoking for hours. At the head of each couch is placed a small lamp, as fire must be held to the drug during the process of inhaling; and from the difficulty of filling and properly lighting the pipe, there is generally a person who waits upon the smoker to perform the office. A few days of this fearful luxury, when taken to excess, will give a pallid and haggard look to the face; and a few months, or even weeks, will change the strong and healthy man into little better than an idiot skeleton. The pain they suffer when deprived of the drug, after long habit, no language can explain; and it is only when under its influence that their faculties are alive. |
