Cuap. IL] CONTRASTED WITH JAVA. 13 
of the soil, and the Chinese practice of lopping 
off its branches for fuel, it never attains any size, 
but is merely a stunted bush. Was this, then, the 
“flowery land,” the land of camellias, azaleas, 
and roses, of which I had heard so much in Eng- 
land? What a contrast betwixt this scenery and 
the hills and valleys of Java, where I had been only 
a few days before! There, from the sea-shore to 
the tops of the highest hills, the whole is clothed 
with the most luxuriant vegetation; and when 
the sun rises in the morning, or when his last 
rays scatter themselves over the lovely landscape, 
deepening the tints of the foliage of all hues, the 
scene presented to the view may well be called 
grand and sublime. But, as the poet sings,— 
* Tis the land of the East, the clime of the sun.” 
After a few hours’ pleasant sailing amongst the 
islands, we at last reached the beautiful bay of 
Hong-kong, and anchored opposite to the new town 
of Victoria. Hong-kong bay is one of the finest 
which I have ever seen: it is eight or ten miles in 
length, and irregular in breadth; in some places 
two, and in others six miles wide, having ex- 
cellent anchorage all over it, and perfectly free 
from hidden dangers. It is completely sheltered 
by the mountains of Hong-kong on the south, and 
by those of the main land of China on the opposite 
shore ; land-locked, in fact, on all sides; so that the 
shipping can ride out the heaviest gales with per- 
feet safety. 
