Miscellaneous. 131 



abound : their waters being led on the lower levels into shallow canals, 

 branches from which extend in all directions throughout the cultivated 

 lands, returning generally into a common channel near the coast by 

 which the surplus water is discharged through a sluice in the bund 

 which confines the valley, and prevents its soil from being washed by 

 the rains, which are in this latitude doubtless heavy, into the sea. In 

 the beds of these canals, from the rapid decomposition of the trap rocks 

 of the upper ranges, vast accumulations of mud are taking place, and 

 their capacity for retaining water of irrigation in the present state 

 of their banks is circumscribed : much vegetable matter also finds 

 its way into them from the free drainage of the paddy fields, and from 

 this and other causes the water is rendered unwholesome for drinking, 

 unless after passing through the filter. Excellent supplies however of 

 this important necessary will always be readily obtainable by leading 

 watering streams from the higher levels, where it is of course pure and 

 sweet : many springs also can be readily cut by wells at no great depth. 

 Agriculture. — The products of the Island appear to be chiefly, Rice, 

 Millet, Barley, Indian corn, Sugar Cane, Sweet Potatoe. Brinjall, 

 Spinach, Lettuce, Tobacco, Ginger, Rhubarb, and a few other varieties 

 of vegetables ; while of fruit trees, the Pear, though of poor quality, 

 Peach, Plumb, Orange, Lime, Palm, Loquots, and a species of Cherry 

 were seen. The capabilities of the Island however for the growth of 

 almost every description of vegetable and fruit in common use both 

 within and without the tropics would seem indisputable, although the 

 seasons at which they would be brought to maturity might be peculiar : 

 that the great standards of European life, Wheat and Potatoes, would 

 thrive admirably no doubt can be entertained, and with the most ordi- 

 nary gardening skill Cabbages, Cauliflower, Peas, Beans, Vegetable 

 marrow, &c. &c. would soon be produced in abundance. With regard 

 to the implements of husbandry made use of by the Chusan agricul- 

 turists, little that is new can be said, they being precisely similar to 

 those seen in the Canton province, which ha\e been more than once 

 fully described. Their plough appears an exceedingly good one, the 

 share, which is of well wrought iron, being deep and of the proper 

 curve and blade, and unlike the system pursued in India, by which only 

 the upper surface of the soil is turned over, and by constant use ex- 

 hausted of its fertilizing properties — the ground is penetrated by its 

 furrows to a considerable depth, and a fresh stratum as it were continu- 

 ally brought to the seeding. Their winnow, working with a crank and 

 fans closely resembles that used by the Dutch, their hoes, forks, <3rc. 

 are their own plan, and of spades or mamoties none were seen. I 



