90 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. VI. 
CHAPTER VI. 
Kintang or Silver Island — Its Inhabitants and Productions — 
Bay of Chapoo — Advantages of an Inland Eoute — New Year at 
Shangiiae — Flower-shops and Flowers — Sacred Bamboo — The 
Chrysanthemum — Sail for Hong-kong — A Game-ship — Canton 
Seeds, and Mode of packing them — False Notion regarding their 
being poisoned. 
On my arrival at Ning-po I engaged a Chinese boat to 
take me to Kintang, Kintang or Silver Island is one of 
the islands of the Chusan archipelago, situated between 
Chusan and the mouth of the Ning-po river, in about 
the 30th degree of north latitude. It is about seven 
miles in length, and from two to three in breadth at its 
widest part. I found two opium-vessels at anchor in the 
little harbour of Leh-kong, and was kindly received by 
Captain Priestman, who gave me quarters on board his 
ship. 
Silver Island, although near Chusan, was rarely visited 
by the English during the time they held that place. 
All sorts of stories used to be told about it. It was said 
to be a place of banishment for mandarins who had 
offended the Government ; and this circumstance, taken 
in connexion with its name, led us to believe that it was 
a place of wealth and luxury. Moreover, the Chinese 
Government had requested that none of our officers or 
soldiers might be allowed to go there, as it was full of 
