FISHING BOATS, 17 



Islands, like most of those about this part of tlie 

 China coast, are bold, nigged, and but very 

 scantily covered by vegetation ; its geological 

 structure is principally coarse granite, approach- 

 ing to sienite, and quartz, which enters largely 

 into their composition.* The inhabitants of 

 these islands appear to be principally fishermen, 

 and their boats animated the waters around to 

 some distance, in great numbers : some were 

 of very large size, being probably of sixty or 

 seventy tons burden, and are inhabited by whole 

 families ; the clatter of women, squalling of 

 children, and barking of dogs, could be heard 

 in concert, when in beating to windward we 

 came near any of them. 



These slenderly constructed but admirable 

 boats, with their large mat sails, some having 

 one, two, or three masts, sail with rapidity : 

 they would often lower a small awkward punt, 

 and bring some fish on board for sale. The 

 women w^orked hard, and one would be often seen 

 with an infant at her back, with others running 

 after, seeking her protection, whilst she assisted 

 in the various occupations of the ship, in tacking 

 and hauling the ropes. They all had a dark, 

 wretched appearance, from the exposure to wea- 

 ther and hardships of many descriptions. When 



* Abel's China, 4to. p. 59. 

 VOL. II. C 



