62 DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND. [Cnap. V. 
the vessel in high spirits, and in a few hours after- 
wards we were at anchor in the fine Bay of Chusan. 
Chusan is a large and beautiful island, twenty 
miles in length and ten or twelve in breadth at the 
broadest part. In approaching it, the view of the 
numerous other islands which stud the sea in all 
directions, is striking and picturesque, noble moun- 
tains towering above the other land, and fertile 
valleys sloping gradually to the ocean. The island 
itself is a succession of hills, valleys, and glens, pre- 
senting an appearance not unlike the scenery in the 
Highlands of Scotland. At the head of every valley 
there are mountain passes, over which the inhabi- 
tants cross when they wish to visit the interior of 
the island. The valleys are rich and beautiful, 
surrounded by mountains, which in many parts are 
covered with trees, and in others under cultivation: 
these, in their turn, again open and expose other 
vallies no less fertile, rich in vegetation, and watered 
by the clear streams from the mountains. Thus 
the traveller can visit the whole of the island, his 
way winding through valleys and over mountain 
passes, until his prospect is at last arrested by the 
sea, of which he has had frequent glimpses during 
the journey. Did our island of Hong-kong possess 
the natural advantages and beauties of, Chusan, 
what a splendid place it might have been made 
by our enterprising English merchants in a very 
few years! 
The principal town is Tinghae, well known as the 
place twice taken by the English troops during 
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