146 PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. [Cwar. 1X 
in the art of war, which will make them more 
difficult to conquer in future, would still, with all 
their forts, afford but a feeble resistance against the 
military and naval tactics of the English and other 
civilised nations of the West. 
Inside the Bogue the river widens very much, 
and presents the appearance of an inland sea. The 
view now becomes beautiful and highly picturesque, 
the flat cultivated land near the shores forming a 
striking contrast to the barren hills on the outside 
of the forts; the mountains in the distance appear 
to encircle the extensive plain; and although, like 
the others, they are barren, yet they make a fine 
back-ground to the picture. A few miles further 
up the river, the shipping in Blenheim and Wham- 
poa reaches come into view, and the celebrated 
Whampoa pagoda, with several more of less note, 
besides numerous other towers and joss-houses, all 
remind the traveller that he is approaching the far- 
famed city of Canton, one of the richest and most 
important in the celestial empire. The noble river, 
with its numerous ramifications, forms many 
islands, on one of which the small town or village of 
Whampoa is built. 
Large quantities of rice are grown, both on the 
islands formed by the river, and on the flats on the 
main land. The tide is kept out by embankments, 
and the ground can be overflowed at will. These 
embankments are not allowed to lie idle, but are 
made to produce crops of Plantains. When the 
land is too high to be flooded by the tide, the 
