The Cordova daily times., 1922-09-11

(Prepared by the National Geographic
 Society, Washington, D. O.
 One of the most important of the "sliceS of China" taken by outside na- tiOns, but one which there has been no mention of restoring, is the island which the world knows as Formosa, but which the Japanese, since they gained possession of it through the Chino-Japanese war, have named Tai wan.
 'Ihla rmosa"-Beautiful ISle-the and never was more appropriate name given to an isle of the sea.
 If you care to confirm this in one of several pleasant ways sail along the west coast of Formosa in a tcli pal, or bamboo raft on clear day, and you will witness a pageant of noun tain scenery that will haunt the mem ory for many day.
 Beyond the fertile plain, with its emerald paddy-felds and it's pictur- esque little villages dotted here and there on the banks of meandering streams foothills with intending varia- tions of contour silhouette their tree fringed summits against the paler screen of more distant mountains. Of these, sometimes five and sometimes even six parallel ranges are visible at once, each a separate ribbon of color, shading from the deepest sapphire to the palest azure and extending in an h nl,ni ,f nt,t, f,nr nr+h to south
 On the east of the island you can see the highest coastal cliffs known, at some places rising abruptly to an ele- vation of about 6OOO feet and afford ing an impregnable wall of defense to the wild aboriginal tribes living in the mountains back of them.
 All Kinds of Vegetation.
 Formosan scenery Is unusual In its diversity of vegetation within such narrow confines-the greatest length of the island from north to south is about 264 miles and 80 miles is its greatest width.
 From the palms and tropical fruit trees of the western plain 1t Is only short step to the slopes of the lower mountains, with their eXuberant jungles of various growths-the beard which in sheltered hooks attain the height of palms, and the ubiquitous bamboo grass.
 Here, among mOSsstrung trees, is found growing the beautiful butterfly orchid, while in exposed spaces, nes- tling among the rocks, rose-pink azaleas flaunt their gay blooms. A little high CT are plateaus covered with camphOr laurel, the largest tracts of these valu able trees In the world, while still higher grow the forests of coniferous trees-the giant benihi, similar to the rcAwoods of California, the largest trees in the East and the second largest in the world; the valuable hinoki or Japanese cypress, and the pine cedar and spruce of the New England states; and higher yet the craggy peaks of the tallest mountains, but sparsely covered with vegetation of any sort, where eagles build their
 
 of the year lie beneath a mantle of snow.
 The usual approach to the island is the port of Kelung, in the extreme north. Almost any time one arrives In Kelung the rain will be found con- ing down in sheets, obscuring the hill crested harbor.
 Board a train for Taihoku, the capi- tai city, which on most maps still bears it's old Chinese name of Taipeh, and in about ten minutes you will pass through a long tunnel, under a noun tain ridge on the other side of which you will in all probability find the landscape flooded with sunshine Rain seems as out of place in this new world as stars in the broad daylight.
 Here and there the train passes the low, mud, thatched dwelling of some Chinese hOmesteader with a pool of water by way of front yard, where huge slate-coiored buffaloes take their monday siesta.
 Taihoku Is Fine City.
 The distance of 20 miles to Taihoku is covered in a little more than an hour, and there the traveller is sure to be amazed at the westernized appear ance of the city-the broad streets, the beautiful parks, and the imposing pub lie buildings. Only the gateways of the old wall, which surrounded the ancient Chinese city, remain, looking as out of place in their rejuvenated setting as the Egyptian obelisk in Gen. tral park. Even Daitotei, the Chinese section of Taihoku, Is unnaturally clean for a Chinese city.