FORMOSA. [chap. 



Formosa (Cervus j^seudaxis). Almost all of these were without one 

 or other of the fore feet, most probably the result of havmg been 

 caught in a trap. They had been brought over to the island as pets, 

 and w^ere exceedingly tame, but, somewhat to our disappointment, 

 the natives were unwilling to part with them. In other respects, 

 however, they were most eager to please us, asking us into their 

 huts to rest, and presenting us with eggs and vegetables. As, 

 however, we had more designs on the fauna than the products of 

 the island, we started at once for the south-east side, hoping to pick 

 up some birds and insects on our way. The crowd that accom- 

 panied us unluckily frustrated all our hopes, and we arrived at our 

 destination empty-handed, and somewhat glad of a rest, which the 

 villagers w^ho had come over with us, in their anxiety to show us off' 

 to their friends, seemed l^y no means disposed to allow us. The 

 island appeared to be fairly well cultivated, the chief crops being 

 rice, Indian corn, and sweet potato, but the wilder parts, abounding 

 in pretty valleys clothed with thick underwood, we had unfor- 

 tunately no tune to explore. From the south-east cape a coral reef 

 stretches straight out to sea for a distance of two or three miles, on 

 which a tremendous sea was breaking — the strong south-easterly 

 wind of the morning having freshened into a gale. 



On our return we were for the nonce appointed Inspectors of 

 Schools for the Eepublic of Samasana. We found the children 

 collected in one of the usual mud huts, in charge of the first true 

 Chinaman we had as yet seen on the island — an old gentleman of 

 benevolent aspect, who was evidently much pleased with our visit. 

 His pupils were learning their letters, but owing to our own ignor- 

 ance of them we were unable to obtain a good deal of information 

 which would have been most interesting to us. It speaks well 

 indeed for the character of the islanders that such an institution 

 should exist in so desolate a spot, where communication with China 

 can only be of the rarest occurrence. 



The mnd still holding from the S.E., though somewhat stronger 

 than we wished, we decided to sail for Formosa, regretting that we 



