The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-05-04

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington. ID. c.
One Of the most important of the
"sIices of China taken by outside ma
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 II through the
Chino-Japanese war, have named Tai
wan.
'Ihia F0rmosa"-Beautiful Isle-the
early Portuguese voyagers called Ii
and we was a more appropriate
name given to an isle of the sea.
III you care to confirm this In one OF
several pleasant ways. sail along the
west coast OF Eormosa in a tex pal, or
bamboo raft, 81 a clear day, and
you will witness a pageant OF noun
tain scenery that will haunt the mem
DRY for many a day.
Beyond the fertile plain, with Its
emerald paddy-feids and It's pictur-
esque little villages dotted here and
there on the banks Of ~meandering
GlNCuhlHr tOUlitilS Win uhClltliik NuIlu-
tions of contour silhouette their tree
fringed SUBMITS against the paler
screen of more distant mountains. OF
these, sometimes five and sometimes
even six parallel ranges are visible Mt
once each a separate ribbon Of color,
shading from the deepest sapphire to
the palest azure and extending In an
unbroken chain Of beauty from north
TO south.
On the east OF The island you can
see the highest COASTAL cliffs known, at
some places rising abruptly to an ele-
walton OF about 5000 feet, and afford
ing an ~impregnahle wall of defense to
the wild aboriginal tribes living in the
mountains back Of them.
All kiads 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 so miles Is Its
greatest width.
From the palms and tropical fruit
trees Of the western plain 1t is only a
short step to the slopes of the lower
mountains, with their exuberant
jungles of various growths-the beard
ed banyans. the graceful tree ferns,
which In sheltered hooks attain the
height OF palms, and the ubiquitous
bamboo grass.
* Here, among moss-strung trees. is
found growing the beautiful butterfly
orchid. while In exposed spaces. nes-
fling among the rocks. rose-plnk azaleas
Haunt their gay blooms. A little high
er are plateaus covered with camphor
laurel. the largest tracts OF these valu-
able trees In the world, while still
higher grow the forests of conifer0us
~trees-the giant benihi. similar to the
redwoods Of California, the largest
trees I'm 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,
hut snarselys covered s=;st. regs.atteH
of any sort. where eagles build their
nests, and which for the greater part
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 COM
ing down in sheets, o~bscuring tae .hill-
crested harbor.
Beard a train for Taihoku, the capl
fal city, which on most maps stih
bears IT'S aid Chinese name Of Taipeh
and III about ten minutes you viii pass
through d long tunnel. under a n
tain ridge on the other side OF which
YOU will In all probability find the
landscape flooded with sunshine. Rain
seems lis out OF place In this new
world as stars IN the bfssda ds5sHsEht.
Here and there the train passes the
low. mud. thatehed dwelling Of some
Chinese homestender with a pool OF
WITT by way Ok front yard, where
huge sla~te-colored buffaloes take their
Eoonday siesta.
TaIhoku Is 4 Fine City.
Il distance of 20 miles 70 Taihokn
II covered ii I iiffle more tian m
hour. and there the traveller is sure 70
NJ amazed III the w~esternized appear
-nce 81 Ire cIfy~~1the broad streets the
seanftfnl marks. and the imposing pub
~ buildings. Only the gateways o.
thp old wnli. which surrounded tee
ancient Chinese city. remain. looking
~ out % place A. their r~s3useh@ nns