392 Voyage of the Novara. 



among narrow canals, between lofty granite rocks : so soon as 

 she emerges from these, the muddy distm^bed colour of the 

 water indicates that she is now crossing the mouth of the 

 Canton River proper. Stately ships are seen passing up or 

 down, while junks and fishing boats are plying on every side. 

 The majestic conical peak, 3000 feet high, of the island of 

 Lantao, and the Castle Peak scarred with a deep furrow from 

 top to bottom, on the mainland of the province of Quang- 

 tong directly opposite, form the back-ground. The regu- 

 larity of the conical shape in these peaks, which seems to 

 point to their being of volcanic origin, renders it probable 

 that they are either granite or joorphyritic in structure. The 

 mouth of the Canton River is so wide, that the opposing 

 shores only gradually become visible, the wide expanse of 

 water, extending on every side till lost in the horizon, giving 

 the traveller the impression that he is on the open sea. 



Already, before the houses of Macao could be very easily 

 made out, we passed the merchant ships lying in the roads, 

 which cannot approach within from six to eight nautical 

 miles. The small thoroughly land-locked '' inner harbour,'' as 

 it is called, lying on the other side of the narrow tongue of 

 land on which Macao is situate, is only accessible for small 

 vessels and Chinese junks, which visit it in large numbers. 



The first view of the city of Macao is not less charming 

 than that of Victoria. The long ranges of houses are 

 picturesquely grouped around the numerous little hills sur- 

 mounted by forts, which form the greater part of the isthmus ; 



