Miscellaneous. 139 



Appendix to the foregoing. 



Little as is known, or as for many years is likely to be known of the geological structure of 

 that vast tract of country comprehended within the limits of the Chinese Empire, it cannot but 

 be interesting to bring together into one focus the scanty items of information which I have 

 been able to glean from personal observation or otherwise, during the progress of the Eastern 

 Expedition. These notes, however brief and imperfect, will at least throw some little light upon 

 a subject hitherto veiled in obscurity, and may form a first step in facilitating the labours of 

 future observers. It would not be possible to give a complete or connected description of the 

 Chinese coast from the Southern Provinces to the Bay of Petcheelee, but various links in the 

 chain have fallen under our examination, from which data we may, at least conjecturally, sup- 

 ply the rest. 



Commencing then with the Southern Province, called Quangtung, the capital of which is 

 Canton, we may observe in the promontory and head-land of Macao the extremity of a range 

 of granitic hills, which appears to run to the north-eastward, being there connected with high- 

 er and more important chains at the distance of about 70 miles inland. Extending from the 

 boundary of this province, and forming the sea-coast as far as Namo, there appears to be a 

 continuous but rugged range of igneous rocks, much dislocated and broken up in various parts, 

 but preserving the same general characters throughout. Further north these rocks assume, as at 

 Amoy, a trappean appearance, and the provinces of Tchekiang and Kiangnau as far north as 

 the estuary of the Yang-tze-Keang, seem to be traversed by lofty but irregular ranges of hills 

 and mountains of an igneous or perhaps volcanic nature, having a direction nearly due north 

 and south. 



The group of islands forming the Chusan Archipelago, has already been described as compos- 

 ed of ancient volcanic rocks. Our information now becomes imperfect as far as the Shan-tung 

 provinces, but from analogy it is reasonable to suppose that the same system of rocks continues 

 along the coast, as far as the north-eastern extremity of that province which forms the southern 

 arm of the bay of Petcheelee. The continuity of the same rocks seems evident from the geolo- 

 gical character of the Ta-koa and other scattered islands in the narrow gorge at the entrance of 

 the bay, indicating a connexion with the high ridges in the opposite district of Leo Tong in 

 Tartary. 



The great alluvial plains of Petcheelee next require notice : they are bounded by the trap 

 ranges of Tangchuo-foo to the South-east, and to the Eastward by the Bay, and by lofty Alpine 

 ranges seen in N. latitude 40, beyond the line of the great wall, and trending away to the North 

 Westward. It is in Foochao that a most interesting discovery — that of coal — has been made, 

 which will presently be noticed. 



On the subject of ores and minerals, but little information could be expected from a hasty 

 examination of a line of sea-coast, nor are deposits of this kind likely to exist in the volcanic 

 hills, and alluvial plains which prevail throughout the tract of country visited by the Expedi- 

 tion. As regards organic remains, and for nearly similar reasons, I have little to communicate. 

 There are however raised beaches near Canton, which contain bivalve shells of the genus ostrea, 

 presenting a remarkable feature of resemblance with those elevations of lines of coast prevail- 

 ing so generally in Europe, and recognized also in America. These raised beaches have pro- 

 bably been produced by the latest upheavings or expansions of igneous rocks before noticed, as 

 existing on this part of the coast. 



The existence of coal in China, and its being worked by the inhabitants has long been known, 

 and two localities of this mineral have come under my notice — one near Canton, and the other 

 in Chinese Tartary. 



The former of these carboniferous deposits is situated to the North-west of Canton, where a 

 chain of hills running East and West separate the province from the low lands of central China. 



