134 Miscellaneous. 



tain Joss houses afford evidence of the skill which they have the power 

 of exerting, when the views of their Government may permit of its dis- 

 play in the manufacture of the more ponderous engines of war. Some 

 sword blades in the arsenals also appeared to be of sound material 

 and well cutlered and tempered : the major part however where of com- 

 mon wrought iron. 



That the art of sculpture has obtained a very high place amongst 

 those studied and practised by the Chinese of these parts, is proved con- 

 clusively by the appearance of an exceedingly striking and interesting 

 group of figures carved in wood found in one of their principal temples, 

 the attitudes of which, and the variety and beauty of expression of the 

 countenance stamp them as a production of no ordinary merit. There 

 are also several exceedingly well executed figures and ornamental 

 pieces in stone, which sufficiently testify the skill and taste possessed by 

 the artists, and encouraged by the people. 



The Sea-port town, or suburb, is extensive, and contains many good 

 one-story warehouses and Sam-shew distilleries. A wharf wall runs 

 along the margin of the bay contiguous to it, with hards or sloping 

 piers running at various points into the water for landing cargo, &c. 

 from boats : a pier however could readily be carried out into deep water 

 which is found at not more than 100 to 150 yards from the shore. The 

 tide runs through the bay with great velocity, but its " rise and fall" is 

 not so considerable as has been stated by some, being at springs 12 ft. 8 

 inches, and at ordinary tides about 7 feet. 



A very interesting discovery was made in some warehouses in the Sea- 

 port town of rock salt, gypsum, and flints, all of course evidently 

 imports, and indicating (probably with the exception of the latter, which 

 may be of English origin, and brought up from Canton) that rocks of a 

 secondary or tertiary formation are not far distant. Here again the 

 want of interpreters or of the means of rendering available for the pur- 

 poses of science such advantages as in that respect existed, become 

 a serious obstacle in the path of inquirers, and in this instance prevent- 

 ed them from acquiring any information as to the locality — even of the 

 port — 'Whence these minerals were brought. 



The exports appear to be confined to Sam-shew, and possibly a small 

 quantity of salt, although it is doubtful whether more of this condi- 

 ment is raised than is needed for the supply of the population of the 

 island. 



The imports, considering as such the articles found warehoused in the 

 Sea-port town, are wheat, (of small grain, but good quality) barley, 

 alum, rock- salt, gypsum, bones, timber (principally fir and cam- 



