Ch. I.] FIEST YIEW OF HONG KONG. 17 



numerous shipping, and the magnificent scene which the 

 land affords on either hand, but more especially upon the 

 island side. Passing by a heterogeneous crowd of junks 

 which ply between Hong Kong and Canton or Macao, for 

 the supply of the market, and which attract notice from 

 their novel and foreign aspect, we thread our way among 

 British shipping of every class, among which also are 

 many British men-of-war and gunboats, mingled with not 

 a few foreign vessels. Through these, often withia speak- 

 ing distance, we steam slowly and cautiously, and have 

 time to watch the gradual unfolding of the city of Hong 

 Kong. Built terrace upon terrace up the base of the hill, 

 a series of splendid palatial residences, with open verandahs 

 around them, rise nobly, and in strong contrast to the dark 

 back-ground of the craggy peak which towers above them — 

 on one side sloping gradually down towards the Lyemoon 

 pass in the East, and on the other side suddenly and pre- 

 cipitously terminating towards the sea in the West, — re- 

 minding the spectator very strongly of the Eock of Gibraltar. 

 On the opposite shore, a long line of barren, serrated peaks, 

 sweeping picturesquely up from the shore, with nowhere 

 any sign of life or habitation, forms a striking contrast to 

 the busy life and activity of that from which we have just 

 turned. 



Although from the nature of the ground there are numer- 

 ous spots on shore which command exquisite views, the 

 position of the spectator on ship-board in the harbour is 

 pecuharly adapted for obtaining the most charming and 

 picturesque scenery — for as the vessel swings with the tide, 

 a series of panoramic pictures, as it were, is gained, em- 

 bracing every quarter of the compass ; and these, when seen 

 from so advantageous a position as the stem galleries of the 



