2 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. I. 
hill sides ; but, what with the barren nature of the soil, 
and the Chinese practice of lopping off its branches for 
fuel, it never attains any size, but is merely a stunted 
bush. Was this, then, the " flowery land,'' the land of 
camellias, azaleas, and roses, of which I had heard so 
much in England ? 
After a few hours' pleasant sailing amongst the islands, 
we at last reached the beautiful bay of Hong-kong, and 
anchored opposite to the new town of Victoria. Hong- 
kong bay is one of the finest which I have ever seen ; it 
is eight or ten miles in length, and irregular in breadth ; 
in some places two, and in others six miles wide, having 
excellent anchorage all over it, and perfectly free from 
hidden dangers. It is completely sheltered by the 
mountains of Hong-kong on the south, and by those of 
the main land of China on the opposite shore ; land- 
locked, in fact, on all sides ; so that the shipping can 
ride out the heaviest gales with perfect safety. 
The new town of Victoria is situated on the north 
side of the island, along the shores of this splendid bay, 
with the mountain chain rising precipitously and majes- 
tically behind it. When viewed from the sea it has a 
curious and irregular appearance ; but as the plan of the 
town becomes more developed, and better houses are 
built, it will really be a very pretty little place. When 
I left China, at the end of December, 1845, it had made 
most rapid progress ; new houses, and even new streets, 
had risen, as if by magic. Some noble government 
buildings were nearly completed, to be used as barracks 
for the soldiers ; excellent and substantial houses were 
erected, or in the course of erection, for the merchants ; 
