The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-11 00:00:00

CHUSAN

We copy the following description of the island of Chusan
and the capital Ting-hae, now in possession of British troops,
from the Sun:—

Chusan, or Chowsan, is an island, about thirty miles in
length, and fifteen in breadth, surrounded by numerous
islands and islets of every grade, from about one-fourth the
size of the principal island to mere barren rocks just rising
above the surface of the water. No description could afford
any correct notion of the relative position of islands so nume-
rously scattered in all directions. The largest number is to
the south of the principal island. This island lies nearly op-
posite to the river of Ningpo. On its southern side is a con-
siderable walled town, named Tinghae, in front of which is
the principal harbour which the islands afford, in lat. 30 deg.,
36 min., north, long. 121 deg., 41 min. east, according to
Horsburgh, but somewhat differently by others. The depth
of water in the harbour is from five to seven fathoms. It is
completely land-locked and sheltered from all winds. A long
and narrow neck of land, extending from the main, termi-
nates in Kittow (Kettow) point, three or four leagues to the
southward of Chusan harbour. Running along the northern
shore of this land we shortly reach the entrance of the river
of Tahea. Kintang on the east, and Pooto on the west of
Chusan arc among the larger and more beautiful islands of
this extensive group. Pooto possesses a peculiar attraction
in the number of splendid temples and picturesque grottos
which cover it.

Ningpo is the chief city of a department, and a place of ex-
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this
bank, five or six
leagues up the river Tahea, the mouth of which is about nine
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the disemboguement of the river Tseentang. A few miles
up this gulf is Hangehow-foo, the capital of the province
Chekang, a place celebrated for its silk manufactures, and
the seat of an inland trade. Knapoo (supposed to be the
Canfu of the Mohammedan travellers in the eighth century,)
was formerly the port Hangehow, but the gradual accumula-
tion of sands has rendered it necessary to move further out
towards the sea, to a place named Chappoo, situated like
Kanpoo, on the northern side of the gulf. From hence is
carried on the trade with Japan, consisting of 20 large junks
annually. The embankments raised against the encroach-
ments of the sea, and the extensive salt-works in this neigh-
bourhood are objects of interest.
The principal city in the island of Chusan is Ting-hai, or
Ting-hae,'and is properly described as the capital of the three
hundred islands that surround it. It is surrounded by walls
thirty feet high. Along the walls, at the distance of every
hundred yards, are square stone towers. Of the towns of
Europe, Ting-hai bears the resemblance most of Venice, but
on a smaller scale. It is in some degree surrounded as well
as intersected by canals. The bridges thrown over them
are steep, and ascended by steps, like the Rialto. The streets,
which are no more than alleys, or narrow passages, are paved
with square flat stones; but the houses, unlike the Venetian
buildings, are low, and mostly of one story.
The attention as to ornament in these buildings is confined
chiefly to the roofs, which, besides having the tiles that covar
the rafters luted and plastered over, to prevent accidents
from their falling in stormy weather, are contrived in such a
form as to imitate the inward bend of the ridges and sides of
canvas tents, or of the coverings of skins of animals or other