Scientifk Intelligence, — Zoology. Wt 



of them, they excel all other nations. A few observations on 

 their piscinas^ or fish-stews, is the design of this paper ; not 

 merely as a historical description, but as an object for imitation 

 in this or any other country. For twenty or thirty miles round 

 Canton, and as far as the eye can reach on each side of the river 

 on which that city stands, the general face of the country ap- 

 pears nearly a level plain, with but little undulation of surface. 

 The level is, however, richly studded with beautiful hills, which 

 diversify the landscape, and seem to rise out of the plain so 

 abruptly, that they form the most picturesque features, united 

 with the most pleasing combinations. The soil of the plain con- 

 sists of a pure alluvial earth, of great fertility and depth, and 

 very retentive of water ; which, by the way, is a proof that, not- 

 withstanding their claim to high chronological antiquity, the 

 waters of the deluge remained much longer (perhaps for ages) 

 on this portion of the continent of Asia, than it did in the inte- 

 rior: and the circumstance of many of their hills being culti- 

 vated to the very top, their numerous water-plants, and their 

 almost amphibious habits as to their domiciles, are still further 

 proofs that the country was once, more of an aquarium than it 

 now is. Hence the facility of making canals, which are their 

 high-roads (as wheel-carriages and beasts of draught are too ex- 

 pensive appendages for the systematic economy of the celestial 

 empire !) and hence the ease with which a pond may be made in 

 any otherwise useless corner. Such tanks, or ponds, are generally 

 met with in market-garden grounds, where they serve the double 

 purpose of a reservoir, and a stew for rearing and fattening fish. 

 — When a pond is made for this purpose, and filled with water, 

 the owner goes to market, and buys as many young store-fish 

 as his pond can conveniently hold ; this he can easily do, as al- 

 most all their fish are brought to market alive. Placed in the 

 stew, they are regularly fed morning and evening, or as often 

 as the feeder finds it necessary ; their food is chiefly boiled rice, 

 to which is added the blood of any animals they may kill, wash 

 from their stewing-pots and dishes, &c., — indeed, any animal 

 offal or vegetable matter which the fish will eat. It is said 

 they also use some oleaceous medicament in the food, to make 

 the fish more voracious, in order to accelerate their fatten- 



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