Ch. VI.] EISmG OF THE COAST. 91 



found on both sides of the harbour. Blocks of worn and 

 washed coral strew the beach on the north side, and lie 

 about confusedly at high-water mark in the neighbourhood 

 of Ruin Rock. Similar washed coral blocks lie on the 

 beach between tide-marks on the south side, viz. on Palm 

 Island. The sandstone platform between Palm Island and 

 the mainland, which presents every appearance of having 

 been excavated by the sea slowly forcing a passage through, 

 is now very little below high- water mark ; and above the 

 sea level the sandstone rock bears plain indications of 

 having been washed and worn by the waves where vegeta- 

 tion is now growing. Beyond the present limits of the 

 harbour, the level plain at the back of the town shows that 

 the sea once extended farther among the hills; and the 

 inner third of the present harbour is so shallow as to be a 

 mere mud flat at low water. Quite recently the middle 

 third has become too shallow for the anchorage of large 

 ships, such as had previously foxmd sufficient depth ; but 

 this fact may be due to the evil practice of throwing baUast 

 into the harbour to save the trouble of carrying it ashore ; 

 for, although the Chinese are industrious enough to work 

 when necessary, they have but little consQience ; and if en- 

 gaged to unlade a ship in baUast, they will do so, but will 

 drop it overboard at the nearest convenient spot, as I have 

 seen them do, without the slightest consideration for the 

 deterioration of an anchorage, or the shoaling of a sheltered 

 landing-place. 



This part of Formosa derives commercial importance from 

 the existence of coal-mines, which are possessed and worked 

 by the Chinese authorities. I visited these mines, which 

 are situated about a mile and a half to the eastward of the 

 town of Ke-lung, on the sides of the hills bordering on Quar- 



