22 FORMOSA. [chap. 



any value, but this is hardly correct. It is true that Tamsui and 

 Keelung are the best ; that they are both exposed to the ^'iolence 

 of the north-east monsoon ; and that the former is not available for 

 vessels of a gTeater draught than sixteen feet. But the extensive 

 harbour of Ponghou in the Pescadores Islands is complemental to 

 them, and affords excellent shelter from northerly gales, while the 

 smaller anchorage of Makung withm it is perfectly safe during 

 typhoons. In both monsoons there are thus good ports available, 

 while from December to JNIarch good anchorage can be obtamed oft* 

 Tai-wan and other places on the south-west coast. 



The orographical characteristics of Fomiosa are very peculiar. 

 The gigantic precipices of the east coast have already been alluded 

 to. The entire eastern half of the island is composed of lofty 

 mountains covered with dense jungle, which, towards the centre of 

 the island, rise to a height of nearly thirteen thousand feet. At its 

 northern and southern parts the country is also mountainous. The 

 western side, however, is extraordinarily low and flat, and runs back 

 as a vast plain almost to the foot of the central range, which here 

 rises with extreme abruptness. The results of these peculiarities in 

 the physical features of the country are most marked. From various 

 causes the rainfall of the central and northern parts of the island is 

 excessively heavy. The gxadients are so steep that erosion,takes 

 place to a very great extent, while the soil is, for the most part, of 

 such a nature as to disintegrate with gTeat rapidity. "We find, 

 therefore, that the amount of detritus brought down is enormous, 

 that the mouths of the rivers are blocked with sand -banks, and 

 that the land is gaining on the sea to a considerable extent. The 

 old Dutch fort Zealandia, built on an island in 1630, is now two- 

 thirds of a mile from the sea, and the city of Tai-wan, under whose 

 walls vessels could at that time lie at anchor, is now only accessible 

 to cargo boats by means of a narrow creek. Nature is stri\dng 

 once more to unite the island with the mainland from which it has 

 so long been separated. 



Although there are no active volcanoes in Formosa, there are 



