16 EFFECTS OF RAINS. [Cuar. IL. 
from the sides of the mountains at some former 
period of time. The water in these ravines is 
abundant and excellent; and hence the poetical 
name which the Chinese have given our island. 
Hong-kong, or more properly Heang-Keang, the 
“Tsland of fragrant streams.” During the wet 
season —for it rains in torrents then— these little 
streams swell with the augmentation of fresh 
water; and rush down from the mountains with a 
velocity which sweeps every thing before them. 
In May, 1845, one of these storms of thunder and 
rain visited Victoria; and the effects produced by 
it were perfectly astonishing; houses were under- 
mined, roads made at a great expense only a few 
months before, were swept away ; drains were burst 
open; and many of the bridges and other public works 
rendered perfectly useless. “The Hong-kong Regis- 
ter” thus notices the storm to which I allude: —“ The 
damage was very great, both to the recently-formed 
roads and to many buildings in the course of erection; 
and had the violence of the rain continued an hour 
or two longer, many houses must have been under- 
mined and destroyed. As it was, much individual 
inconvenience has been sustained. About 5 o’clock 
the whole of Queen’s Road, from the entrance to 
the large bazaar to the market-place, was com- 
pletely flooded, to the depth of from two to four 
feet. All the streets leading upwards to the hill 
served as feeders to this lake. In Peel Street 
particularly, the torrent rushed along, bearing 
every thing before it, and the street still resembles 
