Ch. in.] HAEBOUR OF TA-KAU. 39 



On rowing into the harbour, the numerous picturesque 

 junks anchored within gave it a foreign appearance, very 

 striking to one who, Hke myself, now entered a Chinese port 

 for the first time. On either side houses, including some 

 in European style, were scattered — ^the real Chinese town 

 forming a long, narrow, dirty street, similar in character to 

 those which I shall have occasion to describe in other parts 

 of Formosa. It is situated directly on the shores of the 

 harbour immediately on entering, and is inhabited by a very 

 low and poor coolie class of Chinese. The European com- 

 munity at Ta-kau is very small, consisting of a vice-consul, 

 one or two English merchants, two medical gentlemen — one 

 of whom. Dr. MaxweU, is a medical missionary — and a 

 commissioner of the Imperial customs. 



The harbour opens into an extensive lagoon which runs 

 some nules inland, and is separated from the sea by a 

 narrow strip of slightly-elevated land, which serves as a 

 mole. From the hills in the neighbourhood of the harbour 

 this lagoon may be seen stretching away through mangrove- 

 covered flats, among which boats could be seen threading 

 their way. Beyond this, a wide and fertile plain of alluvial 

 soil, covered with padi fields and other cultivation, swept up 

 to the base of the magnificent mountains already mentioned, 

 and was dotted with villages, clumps of trees, and other 

 elements of a luxuriant landscape ; while out to seaward the 

 small island of Lambay broke the monotony of the view in 

 that direction. 



Apes' TTin is so called from the fact that a (tailed) species 

 of monkey is occasionally seen upon certain parts of it ; but 

 as far as I could learn, they are difficult to meet with, 

 though I was assured that they really existed. I ascended 

 to the summit, which was very rugged, the side next the sea 



