CHAPTER VIII. 



THE ISLANDS NORTH-EAST OF FORMOSA. 



Visit of a Chinese Admiral — Ke-lung Island— The Harbour from the Sea — 

 Pinnacle Island— Craig Island — The Wideawakes ; their Breeding Place 

 — Geological Structure of Craig Island — Hunt on the Eocks — Grapsi — 

 Agincourt Island — Pinnacle Eocks — Hoa-pin-san and Tia-usu — The 

 Ealeigh Eock — The Dredge — Chromodoris — Gigantic Foraminifera — 

 Further Search — Eetum to Ke-lung. 



On our retiirn from our visit to Sau-o Bay we found that 

 a Cliinege admiral was in the harbour of Ke-lung, his flag- 

 ship being a gun-boat of British build. An interchange of 

 civilities took place, and the admiral paid us a visit on board 

 the " Serpent," accompanied by his interpreter, a young 

 man who had been engaged by the English at Canton, and 

 at once recognised a portrait of Captain Bate (who was 

 killed before Canton) which was hanging in the cabin. The 

 admiral was a jolly, though spare, elderly man, veiy pleasant 

 and affable, and at the same time extremely inquisitive with 

 regard to everything which he saw on board the English 

 ship. He was never tired of asking questions, through his 

 interpreter, about the fittings and tackle of the " Serpent ;" 

 but was, apparently, more particularly interested in the Arm- 

 strong guns, which he examined with great care, and the 

 manipulation of which he watched attentively. He seemed 

 greatly to covet our two small 20-pounders, and inquired 

 their value. Being told that they cost 1500 dollars, or 



