16 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Oh. I. 



the dreaded typhoon. As we approached the coast, great 

 numbers of junks, with mat sails and two masts, appeared, 

 the high poops of which gave them the strange aspect 

 of plunging headlong into the water; but they appear to be 

 excellent sailers, and under ordinary circumstances have no 

 real tendency to do so. The numerous islands cliTstered 

 about the entrance of the Canton river began to make their 

 appearance on the following morning, bare of trees, but 

 usually smooth and more or less green ; and ultimately the 

 back of the island of Hong Kong itself, sparsely dotted 

 with handsome residences, though otherwise not very pre- 

 possessing, being barren and exposed, interlaced by craggy 

 ravines, and running up into elevated crags, the highest of 

 which, surmounted by a flagstaff, is called Victoria Peak. 

 This is the telegraph station, from which the appearance of 

 every ship that approaches the harbom- is signalled, and 

 from which a booming gun announces to every expectant 

 inhabitant of Hong Kong, and to every ship in the port, 

 that the mail is iii sight. 



The first sight of the Hong Kong of the present day is 

 something not to be forgotten, and perhaps unequalled by 

 any view of the same character. Having passed Green 

 Island, a round knoll in mid-channel, we begin to sight 

 the shipping, from the midst of which a puff of smoke 

 announces that the " Fort William," Peninsular and Oriental 

 receiving ship, now sights us rounding the angle of rock. 

 On our left is the long stretch of sea ending in the Capsing- 

 moon pass, through which lies the way to Canton. The 

 rugged crag of the Peak rises on our right, at the base of 

 which the town lies like a city of palaces, gradually de- 

 veloping as we proceed round the front of it. Meanwhile 

 our attention becomes divided between the varied and 



