The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-28 00:00:00

THE BRITISH _EXPEDITION TO

CHINA.

(From the Special Correspondent of the Times.)
SHANGHAI, JUNE 30.
We have steered a thousand miles northward
since leaving Hongkong, and northward must we
coast some eight hundred miles more before reach-
ing the scene of operations. Soon after rounding
the point at Hongkong we encounter a steady
breeze right ahead, though this is the time for the
south-west monsoon, supposed to blow during sum-
mer without intermission. The sea is calm, smooth,
and treacherous—attributes not confined to the sea
in Chinese latitudes. Passing through the channel
of Formosa we are in the birthplace of typhoons,
and this is their season. We sight the northern
point of the island, and open the Eastern Sea. The
barometer falls fast, the wind is light, but a heavy
tumbling swell sets in, while overhead a great com-
motion is raging. The upper scud is flying to the
north, the fleecy clouds below are hurrying to the
south, and appearances are threatening ; so the
yards are sent down, a spare tiller is shipped, and
all is made snug for the night. Towards morning
the wind increases to a gale, now here, now there,
heeling us over to starboard, and anon sending us
staggering to port. The sea rolls and tumbles in
every direction, affording ample evidence of the
circular character of the typhoon which is raging
around us. But we are on its edge, and the full
force is spent to the eastward. The storm is soon
over, but a typhoon swell is easier to raise than to
allay, and for two days we are kicked about most un-
mercifully. With the breeze constantly ahead the
fifth day's steaming only brings us to the Chusan
archipelago. Thousands of islands and islets sur-
round us on every side, from Chusan—some twenty
miles long—to Gutzlaff, the last of the group, a
barren rock which serves as a mark in steering for
the Yang-tse. The sacred island of Pootoo lies on
our left, and beyond it we can make out Chusan,
now occupied in force by the allies. We pass
rapidly by Sidesaddle and Falsesaddle, Fisherman's
Group and Hen and Chickens, and Rugged Islands
and Barren Islands. Most of them are covered with
thick green scrub, and here and there are patches of
cultivation. By the aid of a glass we see the fishing
villages on the side of the hills and near their base.
Hundreds of junks are sailing about us; there are
some 400 to 600 tons each, probably carrying grain
for the north. They do not seem to have much fear
of the " enemy," represented by a large frigate
standing off and on and waiting for a pilot. Under
the protection of the " Queen of Heaven," whom he
propitiates by offerings to her image in a smoky
shrine under the poop, and after a preliminary
blazing of crackers and boating of tom-toms, your
Chinese sailor will leave his harbour at any season,
on a voyage of many hundred miles. The compass
he knew long before it was familiar to Europe, and
his observations are taken with unassisted eye. He
sails by the stars, and generally manages to fetch
his port. But he never ventures without cannon on
board, for those bays and creeks contain others be-
sides fishermen ; they are the lurking places of those
pirates for whom the China seas have long been
celebrated, and who make short work of the unfor-
tunate traders and sailors who may fall into their
hands.
But see what a colour the water has become, and
what a wonderful sediment it contains. We are still
far from the mainland, yet the sea is of a pea-soupy
hue and consistency, and our bath in the morning
tells us it is far from salt. We are in the southern
mouth of the Yangstse, the " child of ocean," " the
father of rivers," here discharging the loam and
slime it has accumulated in its 1,500 miles' course
from the mountains of Central Asia. Rising in the
same range as the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, the
Yang-tse flows through China from west to east, and
divides the country into nearly equal parts. Count-
less rivers and streams swell its onward course, as
it passes through cities which count their population
by millions, and enriches some of the fairest and
most fertile plains of the earth. Until the Yang-tse
be opened we are merely scratching at the outer
crust of China.
We steam through the muddy waters for some
hours, and at. length behold a long line of low coast
on our left. To the right is an island which in-
creases steadily month by month, and has been
formed within the memory of man from the deposit
of the Yang-tee. Already there are good-sized
trees on it, and the Chinese are planting extensively,
in order to give consistency to the fine rich allu-
vium. Ere long it will grow tea and silk, and in
time form a huge peninsula stretching towards
Japan. But we do not proceed far up the " girdle
gg Ota
snne
and
ol
ouroNn ga
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ott
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oht aetnhl dee sf
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iga
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uoo ffp
WCthe i °nYs au
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the Woosung river to Shanghai. We turn the
corner, and find ourselves in the midst of a large
fleet. In the van are the Russian ships which es-
corted General Ignatieff, Russian envoy to China.
He has quitted Pekin, and intends remaining at
Shanghai durin;• the allied operations, lest he
should be 9.',lspected of giving countenance and as-
sistance to the Chinese. The squadron is com-
manded by Captain Tchikhatchof, and consists of
the Djighit, Japanese, Sveltana, and Passanadie,
The first is a magnificent screw frigatg of 50 guns,
the second a screw corvette, the taers steam gun-
boats. A Portuguese sloop of war next meets our
eye; she has the "blue peter" at the fore, and is
about to sail for Japan with the Portuguese Mini-
ster. Then come the French, most of which are
frigates, with the greater part of their guns out,
and acting as transports. Here are the Dragonne,
Hongkong, Loire, Marne, Meurthe, Mitraille,
Pregent, Renommee, Saone, and Vengeance. Not
one English pendant is visible. Is Athelstane the
Unready this time prepared and in advance of his
active ally? We shall see. But the absence of
the English flag in these waters is a good and
taei.re eihealthyna . a
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et e
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symptom.r
Canl ve
thisabout b e Passingthe
ch i size
a,
approach-
ing Shanghai at the end of June,—Shanghai, whose
steaming stifling heat is proverbial ? Above us is
the sky of an English summer, flecked with clouds.
On either side, far as the eye can reach? strctehes
out garden ground in full
,:ul4,lvation, and with every varlet*,
-•
and sh
the barren
after t'ole a green. Oh, how refresh-
rock of Hong Kong.
Innume-
rable creeks intersect the plain, and afford easy

4,1

means of navigation and communication. Up every

creek is a small fleet of junks; under every tree—
and they are numerous—is a house; under every
grove a village. The river is full of life. Here a pilot

boat is sailing down, close to the wind, as only junk
boats can get. There is a cosy house on deck, and
the pilot, in cool white jacket and trousers, is lazily
lolling over the side and watching our progress.
Here is a large lumbering junk'of some 400 tons

taking up the very centre of the channel. On, her
side is painted an insciiption, which tells her name,
port, destination, and cargo. At the stern are two
wooden figures worked by a small windmill. They