PROVINCE OF TC HE-TCHIAN G. 153 



at the age of eighty ; having long led an exemplary life, fully 

 atoning for the irregularity of his early career. 



The ifles of Pong-ho form an Archipelago ofFthe weftern coaft Isles of 

 or Forjnoja, havmg the tropic pamng over them. They are 

 deftitute of all the neceffaries of life, even to fuel, fo that every 

 thing muft be brought from Formofa to fupply the Chlnefe gar- 

 rifon. They confift of only rocks or fand ; yet, as they poffefs a 

 fine port (which Formofa is deftitute of), they become effential 

 in the prefervation of that great ifland. The Dutch built a fort 

 at the entrance of the harbor, of which nothing except the 

 name remains. The Chinefe remember it by that of the fort of 

 the Red hairs. It was the famous Coxinga who took thefe illands 

 from the Butch, and kept them for his own ufe. 



The province of I'cbe-Tchiang continues the maritime parts of Tche-tchiang. 

 China from Foo-tchiejt. This, like the reft, is amazingly com- 

 mercial ; remarkable for its rich filks, embroidered with gold 

 and filver ; for its, timber, vaft forefts of the ufeful bamboo ; for 

 its mullirooms, hams, and the vegetable tallow. Salt is made Salt. 

 in abundance along the ftiores, and ferves to cure the quan- 

 tities of fifn taken on the coafts, which are packed in bar- 

 rels, and fent to the more diftant provinces. The fait itfelf is 

 tranfported to feveral of the internal parts within any reafonable 

 diftance ; but thofe which border on Tartary are fupplied from 

 certain falt-pits, providentially given for the ufe of the inha- 

 bitants*. 



This province, and th-at of Kyang-nan are fuppofed to have Pi 



Provinces 

 gained from 



* For many interefting particulars relating to the preparation of fait in China^ the reader is "^"^ ^^"^^ 

 referred to Sir George Staunton's Account of the EinbaHy, vol. ii. p. 20. E. 



Vol. III. X been 



