The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-11
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THE ISLAND OF HONG KONG

The following description Of Hong Kong taken from
an English paper, will be interesting at this time
since the news of the adjustment of the China ques-
tion which awards this Island 10 the British Govern
ment, in addition to the indemnity of Sc, 100000.
"The island Of Hong Kong, now granted by China
to the Queen of England is Of the group of islands
at the mouth Of the Canton river. II is of granite
formation and the land rises to some considerable
height in the centre of the island There are several
good watering places the southern shores and po
tatoes and vegetables cultivated by the
to great extent The anchorage is the best between the
Lanma island and Hong Kong, there is from 10 to
~ iathoms of water. There is also good anchorage
in the Tytam Bay for small vessels but the entrance
is not good, and there some dangerous rocks in
the course. The entrance into the northern channel
is through the Ly-ee-mun channel into Hong Kong
Bay and although several Of our merchantmen have
wintcred here, the approach through the Lanma ch
mel is very uncertain the depth continually chang
ing from the great deposit Of mud Ships from Macao
pass through the Lamna channel during the northern
monsoon but the navigation of these straits exceed
ingly difficult and dangerous. Tyfongs or gales of
wind prevail along the coast at the equinox and
very detructive to the native and foreign shipping.
This island is badly chosen position is sur
rounded by small clusters of islands, and our ships Of
war will be unable TO act amidst these island groups
Small steamers will alone be serviceabe but these
must be of very small draught. The cession of this
island by the Chinese government is according TO
their usual cautious policy, they will be enabled by
the river junks to block up the enhances and off
communication from the outer waters. The island is
ten miles long, and about five miles broad. The Chi
nese have two forts the coast opposite Hong Kong
Bay, and the small harbor Of Cow-too is much fire.
quented by the coasting junks. The following ex-
tract from popular work, by Captain Basil Hail. will
be read with considerable interest at the present time
when the island has lately become part Of her
Majesty's dominions II was indispensably neces-
sary however before steering to the northwad into
seas so little known To complete stock Of water
T.. IL.
Kong one of the great cluster called the Ladrones-
Here we found noble cascade; and the night being
perfectly calm, with sea smooth MS mill-pond,
in consequence of the anchorage being land blocked
every side by lofty islands, filled watercasks
easily, and towed them on board in RATS of ten or
twenty at time--an expeditions method, but practi-
cable only when the distance happens to be small and
the sea unruffled
1t almost dark when we anchored; but the
NOON which nearly at the full shortly after
wards above the hills The islands in this quarter
lay so close to another that in the daytime
It was difficult to discover any outlet but at night,
the mountains appeared TO form continuous barrier
The nature of the ground also being black and un-
broken it seemed if the ships had been transported
by some magical process to the centre of a solitary
lake. lying in the bosom ola highland glen. Soon
after we had taken up station near the water fall
but before this curious basin lighted by the moon
and when the most perfect silence prevailed the
whole scene, fleet of several hundreds of Chinese
fishing boats suddenly advanced in large groups of
40 or so each, from behind the islands. They were
rowed about from place to place with great celebrity
and in each boat two three stood in the bow,
with flaming torches in their hands, which they
ed backw ards and forwards While others of the
were employed in beating, in the most furious manner
several large gongs suspended to the masts. To
give full force and finish to this extraordinary scre
made, chorus ofyes and shouts set up from all
the boatmen at the full stretch Of their voicesan up
which awakened the echoes all the surrounding
hills and rendered the whole truly dabolica
that the sailors, astonshed and delighted at this sud
the ambassador. But this tumultuous and amusing
uproar evidently intended to drive the fish from
the centre Of the harbor into nets placed the
narrow channels, between the surrounding hills"