Chap. XI. 



PRODUCTIONS. 



237 



foo, on the river Min. In the interior of the 

 island, however, and on its eastern shores, there 

 exists a wild race, who acknowledge no such 

 authority, and of whom little appears to be known. 

 The Chinese tells us, these strange people live 

 in trees like monkeys ; but whether this be true or 

 an exaggeration I have no means of stating. 



The chief productions and exports of the island 

 are rice and camphor. The rice junks arrive 

 yearly in large numbers at Ningpo from Formosa. 

 The camphor finds its way in native vessels to 

 Amoy, Ohinchew, and the Straits, and from thence 

 is exported in large quantities to Europe. Coal is 

 also abundant in many parts, and may at some 

 future period become of great importance to our 

 steam-ships which are now springing up in all 

 directions in these seas. 



The hills and valleys, even very near the sea, 

 seem particularly rich and fertile, and I have no 

 doubt that further inland the beauty and fertility 

 are much more striking. Altogether, it is well 

 worth the attention of any government ; not with a 

 view to annexation or conquest, but to develope its 

 resources, more particularly with regard to coal 

 for our steamers. A new day is beginning to 

 dawn in the east ; Japan and China will soon be 

 opened to unfettered commerce ; already steamers 

 are making their appearance on these seas and 

 rivers, and it is high time that we should know 

 something of a beautiful island known to be rich 

 and fertile and to have abundant supplies of 



