Chap. I. 



MESSRS. DENT'S GARDEN. 



9 



Above the "Orchid Walk" is a green sloping 

 bank, on which are growing some fine specimens of 

 bamboos, Poinciana pulcherrima, myrtles, Gardenias, 

 oleanders (which thrive admirably in China), Croton 

 variegatum and pictum, Magnolia fuscata, Oka fra- 

 grans, Draccena ferrea, and Buddlea Lindleyana. 

 The latter was brought down from Chusan by me in 

 1844, and is now common in several gardens on the 

 island, where it thrives well, and is almost always in 

 bloom, although the flower-spikes are not so fine as 

 they are in a colder climate. A large collection of 

 plants in pots are arranged on each side of the broad 

 terrace in front of the mansion. These consist of 

 camellias, azaleas, roses, and such plants as are seen 

 in the Fa-tee gardens at Canton ; many of the pots 

 are prettily painted in the Chinese style, and placed 

 upon porcelain stands. 



When it is remembered that six years before Hong- 

 kong was but a barren island, with only a few huts 

 upon it, inhabited by pirates or poor fishermen, it is 

 surprising that in so short a time a large town should 

 have risen upon the shores of the bay, containing 

 many houses like palaces, and gardens, too, such as 

 this, which enliven and beautify the whole, and add 

 greatly to the recreation, comfort, and health of the 

 inhabitants. 



If we except the troops in the new barracks, the 

 inhabitants generally' — at least those who use common 

 precaution — are now enjoying as good health as falls 

 to the lot of our countrymen elsewhere in Eastern 

 countries ; but the state of the troops has been, until 



