/ 
158 Mr Livingstone on the Thermal Springs of Yom-Muclt, 
serve to assist me in drawing up from my notes the following 
details. 
From Casa Branca we proceeded across the alluvial flats which 
seem to have been gained from the sea very recently, and which 
are defended against its future encroachments by a very substan- 
tial stone embankment, consisting of the various species of gra- 
nite, which are common here, with occasionally a small mix- 
ture of sienite. These embankments have been construct- 
ed within the last four years, when I had an opportunity of ob- 
serving these flats. 
Our guide informed us, that they seldom went through these 
embankments twice the same w^ay. Our course was continually 
altering from about north to west, but most frequently about NW. 
by N. till we opened the Broadway We then entered the hot- 
springs river, having Tanchow on our right and Machow on our 
left. At this time Ta-hung-chow Island bore S. 50 W. and 
Paik-payak Rock S. 27 W. distance about four miles. 
Our course up this river was from about N. by E. to NNE. 
At the entrance, it is about one-third of a mile broad* In two 
or three miles it contracts to about 250 yards, which breadth 
continued as far as w^e ascended it. We did not ascertain its 
depth, but, from the size of the boats which we observed to be 
employed on it, it must be considerable. The tide rises about 
three feet. At the hot-wells the water of the river is quite 
fresh, even at high-water. 
This river has a very pleasing appearance. From both banks 
a flat alluvial soil extends two or three miles to the mountains, 
which appears to be well adapted to the cultivation of rice, and 
which, from the great number of farm-houses that we ob- 
served at very short distances, must be cultivated with consider- 
able spirit. These farm-houses do not seem generally to be ei- 
ther commodious, or substantially built: they are commonly 
surrounded with a slender bamboo paling, and have at least one 
Melia Azedarach tree planted close on the south side, which 
were now in full flower, giving a pleasing effect to the landscape. 
The banks of the river, for about a mile from its mouth, are 
covered on both sides with Arundo, Carex, and Juncus, the 
* The Broadway is called by the Chinese the Gulf of Sheuy-le. 
