TAHAWZAWE. 



TAT-WAN. 



790 



water which this river brings down is so considerable, that from the 

 place of confluence at Alcantara the Tagus becomes navigable. Though 

 the Tagus has run above 350 miles before it reaches Alcantara, no 

 part of it is navigable, which is partly to be ascribed to the great 

 rapidity of its current through the plain of Castile. Besides this, 

 the greater part of its course is through narrow valleys, between 

 Bteep hills, from which heavy masses of rocks have fallen down, which 

 in many places greatly encumber the bed of the river, and cause 

 rapid*, which continue for several miles ; but the greatest impedi- 

 ment to. the navigation of the river is the small volume of water. 

 The roil of the table-land absorbs a great quantity of moisture with- 

 out forming springs, and at the same time the quantity of rain which 

 falls on this region is much less than what falls in other parts of 

 Europe ; consequently the river is very scantily supplied with water, 

 except during the few months when the rains are more abundant. 



At Alcantara the level of the river is probably less than 300 feet 

 above the sea, and it has still a course of about 200 miles to Us mouth. 

 It* course below Alcantara and as far as the mouth of ita tributary 

 the Zezere, below Abrantes, is went and south-west. For about 20 

 miles it constitutes the boundary-line between Spain and Portugal. 

 In this part of its course the river is navigable, but the navigation is 

 extremely tedious and not without danger, as the sandbanks are 

 numerous and subject to change. It can only be navigated by small 

 flat-bottomed boat*. The Ze&re, in which the numerous rivulets 

 unite that collect the waters originating on the southern declivity of 

 the .Serra de Kstrella, always brings a considerable volume of water 

 to the Tagus, and from this point downwards the river may be navi- 

 gated by vessels of 150 tons burden. In this part of its course 

 numerous islands occur, which at first are small and rocky, but lower 

 down are larger and alluvial. Below these islands the river expands 

 into a lake-like basin, which extends from north-east to south-west, in 

 the direction of the course of the river, nearly SO miles, and H mostly 

 about 12 miles wide, but in several places it is narrowed to 'J miles 

 by projecting headlands. The country north-west of the basin is 

 covered with gently-sloping hills, the oflbeta of the Serra do Junto, 

 and on the south-east of It is the sandy plain of Alemtejo. The most 

 western part of the basin constitutes the harbour of Lisbon, which ia 

 spacious enough to contain all the fleets of Europe. Where the town 

 of Lisbon terminates on the west, the Tagus turns westward, and a 

 broad rocky headland, consisting of high hills, advances northward 

 from the Serra de Arrabida, and narrows the basin to about a mile 

 or a little more in width. At the same time the onsets of the Serra 

 da Cintra come close up to the river on the north, so that the Tagus 

 PMSM to the sea between two rooky masse*. The whole course of 

 the Tagus exceeds 550 miles, and the arva of the country drained by 

 the river probably does not fall short of 40,000 squire miles. 



TAHAWZAWK. [SANDWICH ISLANDS.] 



TAHITI. [SOCIETY ISLAM*.] 



TAHRAH. [CcTCH.] 



TAIN. [DROMK; Iloas-SHiBi.] 



TAI-WAN. a Chinese iiliuH, known in Europe by the name of 

 Pormota, or Hermota. and called by the aborigines Pekan. It lies 

 between 21' 58' and 25* 15' N. 1*1, 120* and 122* K. long., and 

 extends from south-by- west to north-by-east abmtt 240 miles. At its 

 most southern point it is only about 4 miles wide, but at 28* N. lat 

 it is 60 miles wide, and at 24 X. lat nearly 100 miles wide. It* 

 northern portion decreases slowly in width, and near its northern extre- 

 mity it is still 60 miles wide. The area is about 14,000 square 

 miles ; the population is about two millions Chinese, beside* the native 

 inhabitant*, whose numbers are unknown. The island is separated 

 from the mainland of China by the channel of Fokian, which at it* 

 narrowest part, opposite the north-western point of Tal-wan, is only 

 about 80 miles across. In the widest part of the channel are the 

 Ponghu, or Pescadores, Islands. The southern extremity of Tal-wan 

 is divided from the Boshee Islands by the channel of Formosa, which 

 Xy -ij miles wide, and like the Fokian Channel ha* very 

 irregular soundings. 



The broad promontory which terminate* the island on the south, 

 and forms the south-east and south west cape, is a low flat, but at 

 the distance of about 2 miles the country suddenly rises into moun- 

 tain*, called Ta Shan, which continue to run in an unbroken chain 

 northward nearly through the middle of the island to its northern 

 extremity, terminating with high cliffs at the north-east cape. The 

 Ta Shan Mountain* are covered nearly the whole year with snow. 

 They contain several volcanoes, and are supposed to attain an eleva- 

 tion of about 12,000 feet above the sea. The declivities are covered 

 with fine trees and pasture-grounds, and thus the island when seen 

 from the sea, presents a very pleasing appearance, whence it wot 

 called Hrrmos* ('beautiful') by the Spaniards, who first atv it 

 Beside* the active volcanoes there are in this range some other moun- 

 tains which exhibit trace* of former volcanic action. Sulphur con- 

 stitute* an important article of export. 



mountains have a steep declivity on both tidns, but on the 

 west side" they terminate at a considerable distance from the sea, so 

 as to leave a wide undulating tract between them and the shore. 

 The adjoining aca is full of sand-banks and shoals, and can only be 

 approocned in a few place* by vessel* drawing more than 8 feet of 

 water. On the east of the Ta-shan range the mountains seem to 



occupy nearly the whole space between the crest of the range and the 

 sea, and high rocks line the shore. A strong current runs from south 

 to north along the east coast of the island, which ia almost unknown, 

 as vessels do not visit it. 



Rivers are numerous on the west side. They descend from the 

 mountains in rapids and cataracts, and are turned to advantage to 

 irrigate the land. They generally form bars at their mouths, over 

 which only small vessels can pass. There are numerous islands how- 

 ever along the shore, between which junks of 21)0 tons find good 

 anchorage. Some of the rivers however are said to be navigable for 

 a considerable distance inland, especially the Tan-shuy-k/iy which falls 

 into Tan-shuy-kiang Bay, in the narrowest part of the chauunl of 

 Fokian. 



At the change of the monsoons the most violent gales oome on 

 suddenly, and are accompanied by typhoons, whirlwinds, and water- 

 spouts. In the vicinity of the island the north-eastern monsoon 

 generally lasts nina months, as it continues to blow to the beginning 

 of June. In other respects tho climate of the island is very temperate. 

 Earthquakes are frequent and sometimes very violent. In 1782 the 

 whole lower portion of the island was laid waste, and the sea inun- 

 dated the country to the base of the mountains for twelve hours. 



The soil of the lower tracts and the more gentle slopes of the 

 mountains is very fertile, and produces abundance of corn, which is 

 exported to the harbours of Fokian. The chief products are rice, 

 wheat, millet, roaiee, vegetables, truffles, sugar, oranges, pine-apples, 

 guavas, cocoa-nuts, areca-nuts, und 'other eastern fruits; also peaches, 

 apricot*, figs, grapes, pomegranates, and chestnuts. Melons are also 

 much grown. Tea is cultivate 1. The blossoms of the wild jasmine 

 are dried and exported to China, whero they are used to give a 

 scent to the tea. Other articles of export are camphor, pepper, aloes, 

 ami timber. Timber abounds in the large forests in the northern 

 district* of the island. It is also stated that coffee, cotton, and silk 

 are produced to a small amount 



The domestic animals are cattle, buffaloes, horses, usaes, and gonta, 

 but sheep and hogs are rare. The horses are small It is said that 

 on the eastern portion of thd island there are tigers, leopards, and 

 wolves. On the western side, wild hogs, deer, monkeys, pheasants, 

 and game are very abundant. Salt is largely exported. 



The population consists of Chinese settlers and of aborigines. The 

 Chinese are only found on the west side of the island. A consider- 

 able number of aborigine* are settled among the Chinese, to whom 

 they are subject, and are obliged to pay a tribute in corn and money. 

 These aborigine* are of a slender make ; in complexion and language 

 they resemble the Malays, but they do not differ from the Chinese ia 

 feature*. Nothing is known of tho aborigines who inhabit the east 

 side of the island. They are not subject to tlia Chinese, and nre 

 said to be continually at war with them. Inhabiting a country 

 covered with lofty mountains, they are said to subsist mostly ou the 

 produce of the chase and by fishing. 



The Chinese portion of Tai-wan is divided into four districts, which, 

 from south to north, are Fung-shan-hian, Tai'-wan-hian, Tshul-lo-Lian, 

 and Thaug-hua-hian. The capital, Tat' nan-fa, ia a considerable 

 walled town, and has a garrison of 10,000 troop?. The street* are 

 straight, and intersect one another at right angles : they nre full of 

 shops, which ara abundantly provided with all articles of Chinese 

 industry. The largest building is that which was erected by the 

 Dutch during their short sway In Tai-wan. There is still a small 

 church built by the Dutch. It is stated that 1000 junks can anchor 

 in the harbour ; but the entrance even at spring-tide* has but 9 or 

 10 feet of water. The commerce of thi* place with China is consider- 

 able. W*-tecum-kianrf has a harbour, which is frequented by jtmkn 

 and numerous coasting vessels, which bring the produce of the 

 country, especially rice and sugar, to this place. Tan-iltuy-kiany, at 

 the embouchure of the river Tan-shuy-khy, is at the innermost reccs* 

 of a fine bay, which is large enough for a numerous fleet. The best 

 harbour is near the northern extremity of tho island, and is called 

 Ky-long shai, or Quelong. It is capacious enough to contain 30 largo 

 vessels, and is the station of the Chinese navy at the island. An active 

 commerce is carried ou at this place. 



The commerce of the island is limited to that with the eastern 

 provinces of China, especially Fokian, to which it sends its agricul- 

 tural produce, with sulphur and salt, and from which it imports tea, 

 raw-silk, woollen- and cotton-stuff*, and other manufactures. 



Opposite the Bonthern extremity of the eastern coast of Tai-wan is 

 the island of Botol Tabayo-xima. It is elevated, about ten miles in 

 circumference, and surrounded by a sea without soundings. It ia said 

 to be very populous. 



The Dutch in 1134 'built tho fortress of Zelandia at the entrance of 

 the harbour of Tal-wan-fu, where there was then a small town. At 

 this time tho Chinese had not settled on the island, but soon after 

 many families emigrated from Fokian to Tai-wan ; and ou the over- 

 throw of the Ming dynasty many of thoir adherent* abandoned tho 

 mainland, and, under a chief named Txhing-tshiug-kung, occupied 

 the Ponghu Inlands. Tshiug-tsuing-kunij then proceeded to Tiii-wan, 

 and finding only a very weak garrison in the Dutch fortress, he took 

 it, after a niege of four months, in 1062. Thus the Dutch lost tho 

 bland, which was rapidly colonised by tho Chinese. After the death 

 of Tshing-tshing-kung a Chinese fleet in 1682 took possession of tho 



