270 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS. [May 23, 1859. 



no coast-survey, with the exception of the port of Manila, which is 

 complete. 



In China Proper the coast from Hainan Island to Macao has been 

 partially surveyed. From Macao to Canton the river is fairly sur- 

 veyed, but the group of islets to the south-west of Hong-kong, 

 fronting the entrance of the Chu Kiang, requires further examina- 

 tion. From Hong-kong the east coast of China, as far as the 

 entrance of the Yang-tse-keang, has been sufficiently surveyed for 

 the general purposes of navigation, but as it is not a work in detail, 

 vessels must use caution in approaching the different anchorages. 



The Pescadores group and the Chusan isles are also surveyed, 

 but of Ta'i-wan or Formosa the survey is very partial and detached. 

 The Bashi and Balingtang channels, between Formosa and Luzon, 

 have been explored, but are not at all sufficiently known, and espe- 

 cially the meridian distance is wanted between the Babuyan and 

 the Bashi groups. 



The Yang-tse-keang has been explored up to Nan-king, but is far 

 from being properly surveyed ; and, indeed, the shifting nature of 

 some of the banks renders it very difficult to make a correct chart 

 of it. From Nan-king upwards to Han-Kow is only known from 

 the track of the expedition in November, 1858. 



From the Yang-tse-keang northwards by the Hwang-ho, or Yellow 

 River, as far as the Shantung promontory, being the eastern ex- 

 treme of that province, the coast has not even been explored, if ever 

 seen, by any European navigator. The Gulf of Pechili is a little 

 better known, especially about the mouth of the Pei-ho. That river 

 is also laid down as far up as Tien-sin ; thence to Pekin is only 

 known from the embassies of Macartney and Amherst. The Gulf 

 of Leao-tong is almost unknown. So also with the western coast 

 of Korea, except a few detached capes, the position of which has 

 been fairly determined. 



The island of Quelpaert and Port Hamilton have been surveyed. 

 The east coast of Korea has been explored by the French and Rus- 

 sians, as also the coast of Manchuria, as far northwards as the mouth 

 of the Amur. In this extent Victoria Bay, Port Michael-Seymour, 

 Barracouta Harbour, and Castries Bay, are the only spots passably 

 surveyed. 



The Gulf of Tartary also has only been explored. Perouse Strait, 

 between the south end of Saghalien and Yezo, has not been ex- 

 amined. Of Yezo Island in Japan nothing accurate is known, 

 except the south-west extreme, which forms the northern limit of 



