102 EAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. [Ch. VII. 



and two or three other gentlemen, we accordingly left 

 Ke-lung on the 12th June. After passing Petou pro- 

 montory the contour of the coast changed, becoming less 

 bold, and more retiring and flat, until we had reached the 

 embouchure of the Kaleewan, one of the largest rivers in 

 Formosa. This river flows into the sea, through a fertile 

 plain 13 miles long and six broad, which supports about 

 10,000 inhabitants. Nearly opposite to it, at 10 or 11 miles 

 distance, is a large island terminating in two peaks, the 

 highest 1200 feet, the lower 800 feet high, presenting a 

 precipitous face eastward to the sea ; but, although we went 

 on both sides of Steep Island, and near enough to see that 

 it was cultivated in terraces to a considerable height on the 

 landward side, we were unable to disembark upon it, and I 

 cannot, therefore, speak with certainty of its formation. 



The entrance to Sau-o Bay is protected or jeopardised (as 

 the case may be) by a reef, which is nothing more nor less 

 than a great trap dyke, running out nearly at right angles to 

 the coast, and over which the waves dashed wildly, for the 

 wind had risen. It extends a mile out, for the most part 

 just above water, but rising into three prominent rocky 

 peaks, one of which is 70 feet above low- water, and all three 

 are whitened with the deposit of sea-birds which were resting 

 upon them. Another reef, nearly at right angles to this, 

 and probably of the same nature, rims across the harbour 

 for about 300 yards, the highest point being a conical rock 

 15 feet high, the rest only just above water. It forms a 

 natm'al breakwater, and, without blocking up the mouth 

 of the harbour, shelters the interior, which is spacious, 

 though not free from danger. 



Sau-o Bay is shut in by lofty hiUs, for the most part 

 steep, and densely clothed with forest. The formation is 



