10 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. I. 
a few years very different from what it now is. We have 
only to look at what has been done as an earnest of 
what may follow. Trees lately planted are already 
growing beautifully in the grounds of Messrs. Dents, 
the Honourable Major Caine, Messrs. Jardine, and 
Messrs. Matheson, and at Mr. Stewart's a considerable 
way up the hill. 
The island is not rich in indigenous animals. I have 
frequently seen wild goats feeding in the most inaccessible 
parts of the rocky crags ; there are also deer and foxes, 
but these are extremely rare. The only animals of the 
feathered tribe one meets with are, two or three species 
of kingfishers, some small singing birds and a few wood- 
pigeons where there are any trees or bushes to shelter 
them. The main land is much better stocked with birds- 
From thence the natives bring to the market large quan- 
tities of pheasants, partridges, quail, ducks, teal, and 
sometimes woodcocks and snipes. These birds are sel- 
dom seen wild amongst the mountain of Hong-kong, 
and, when they are, they have only accidentally strayed 
from the main land. Luckily for the poor Chinese, their 
waters are much more productive than the land, and an 
inconceivable variety of fish is daily brought to the 
markets, and forms, with rice, the staple article of their 
food. 
There are numerous fine quarries of granite along the 
coast, from which the stone has been obtained for the 
new town of Victoria. Much of the granite in different 
parts of the island is in a state of decay, and some inge- 
nious persons have fancied that to this may be ascribed 
the prevalence of that malignant disease called the 
