HONG KONG. 135 



There is a large trade in opium between India and Hong Kong, it being imported into tbe 

 latter place, and thence smuggled into China along the coast. 



There is no very extensive agricultural culture at Hong Kong, as the land for the most part 

 is rocky, and of little fertility. On the southern part of the island, however, the soil is some- 

 what more favorable than that on the northern, and it contains a single valley which is 

 tolerably productive. There is an abundance of excellent water. The climate is hot, and as 

 the alternations of rain and heat keep up an active decomposition in the marshy districts of 

 the island, they render it quite unwholesome. The southern side of Hong Kong is the more 

 healthful, as it is refreshed and purified by the southwestern monsoon, but being destitute of 

 good harbors, the English were obliged to fix their settlement on the north. 



The laboring class and the small traders are chiefly Chinese, who are ever on the alert for 

 gain. Their bazaars invite the passing stranger on every street, and the itinerant artizans go 

 busily tramping in their daily routine. There are many striking figures among them, with 

 their peculiar costumes and novel implements of labor. Our artist caught a vivid impression 

 of the Hong Kong barber boy. 



On leaving Hong Kong the Mississippi went to Macao, and thence to Whampoa, on the 

 Canton river, where she anchored. In this river there are certain bars, audit is necessary not 

 only to take a pilot, but to employ small Chinese boats, which are stationed at the sides of the 

 crooked channel, and on the bars alluded to, as guides. As the boats receive a dollar each for 

 this service, they are called "dollar boats." Whampoa, which is the anchorage for all large 

 vessels whose business is with Canton, is on the river, about twelve miles from that city. The 

 pagoda here is a marked object, and however it may be venerated by the Chinese, on religious 

 grounds, is no less regarded for its usefulness as a land mark by foreign vessels, for they steer 

 and anchor by its bearings. 



The passage to Canton is made in boats, and is by no means very agreeable. The 

 Commodore was sadly disappointed in the appearance of the stream, which he describes as 

 muddy and shallow, with scarcely a hut upon its banks until the city is nearly reached ; and 

 then swarms of floating habitations are seen moored to the banks, five or six tiers deep, and 

 occupied by a wretched half clad people. Through these two lines of receptacles of poverty and 

 filth which thus border the stream you pass to the mercantile factory, the residence of most of 

 the foreign merchants, and the spot where the stranger lands. Hence he is conducted to the 

 houses of those to whom he bears letters of introduction, where he is hospitably received and 

 takes up his lodging, as there are no comfortable places of public entertainment in this quarter. 



The first impression made by Canton was one of decided disappointment. Perhaps too much 

 had been anticipated, but, from the glowing descriptions the Commodore had read of the place, 

 he had imagined that it would be more striking to a stranger than in his case it proved to be. 

 He expected to behold myriads of boats, decked with gay banners, and moving with cheerful 

 activity in all directions. His fancy had sketched a pleasing picture of beautiful floating 

 domiciles, moored under the banks of the river, and inhabited by a hundred thousand people in 

 variegated costume ; he recalled to memory the stories of the lofty pagodas lifting roof above 

 roof, the delightful residences expanding their spacious quarters from terrace to terrace, and 

 the snug cottages with the picturesque bridges and the comfortable Chinaman under the shade 

 of a willow, with nothing to do but fish, of all which we have been accustomed to read, and 

 pictures of which served to amuse us in our childhood. 



