Nov. 22, 1858.] FROM SHANGHAI TO THE GULF OF PECHELI. 59 



the mouths of the Yang-ze-kiang and Shantung Point, proved 

 we wrere still travelling over a submarine region, formed by the 

 alluvial deposits of those twin giants, the Hoang-Ho and Yang-ze- 

 kiang ; and it was deeply interesting to think that at some future 

 day the plain beneath our keel would, by accumulated deposits, rise 

 to low-water mark, and then, like much of the adjacent coast of 

 China, be immediately seized upon by swarming Chinese, be diked, 

 cultivated, populated, and added to that already wonderful region 

 known as the Great Plain of China : an event which, judging by the 

 rapid formation of Tsung-ming, Bush Island, and other spots in this 

 neighbourhood, is not so far distant as many might suppose. After 

 a run of nearly 400 miles on a north course, we reached the 

 Shantung promontory, and entered what has been called the Yellow 

 Sea, though I know not with what justice, for its waters struck mo 

 to be of a purer pale sea green than those of the region we had left 

 behind us, or those of the Gulf of Pecheli, which we afterwards 

 entered. There was now a decided decrease in the temperature of 

 the air, and at nights it was even in our cabins as low as 58^ Fahr. 

 Daylight of April 13th found us off Alceste Island, and as we steered 

 to the westward for the Straits of Mia-tao, a cold south-east breeze 

 from the high lands of Shantung rolled back the night mists from 

 hill and valley, displaying under a rising sun a glorious and striking 

 panorama, which, though perhaps not so rich as the valley we had 

 been so long in, to the southward, was far more preferable to the 

 eye. Leu-cung Island and Wei-hai-wei harbour were soon passed, 

 and it took us all the forenoon to cross the broad unsheltered bay, at 

 the eastern horn of which stands the now important city of Che- 

 chow-fu. Great numbers of junks were working close along shore : 

 most of them, possibly from fear of us, passed inside the numerous 

 islets forming the Che-fow harbour of our charts. 



This anchorage, of which we have a survey by Lieutenant D. 

 Ross, of the Bombay marine, made in the year 1816, only affords 

 partial shelter to north-east and east gales, which are, I should 

 think, those most to be avoided in this sea. A Fj ench frigate lately 

 anchored in the bay, and in a north-east breeze pitched bows under 

 in a tremendous sea, with 180 fathoms of cable on a single anchor. 

 Outside, and bearing about north-east by east f of a mile distant 

 from the outer island, called North Island, we observed breakers 

 which are not marked in the charts, showing that although the 

 survey is generally correct, so far as cross-bearings and transits of 

 the points would allow us to form an idea, it must have been 

 hastily done. From Che-fii Point to Teng-chow-fu, a large city 

 30 miles W.N.W. of the former, the land was very, picturesque, the 



