THE CITY OF TING-HAI. ISLAND OF CHUSAN. 101 The island of Chusan or Chowsan, on which the British had a factory in 1700, is a miniature likeness of a vast chain of mountains, small streams flowing from its central heights, passing between the hills, which separate as they approach the sea, forming wide and extensive valleys, where boundary-walls and embankments form large alluvial plains. That in which the city of Ting-hai is situated has an embankment facing the sea of full two miles in extent. This extensive plain continues from three to four miles into the gorge of the hills, and is principally under rice cultivation. Every spot on the slope of the hills capable of cultivation is covered with yams and sweet potatoes; while the more barren parts are used as the last restingplace of the inhabitants, a custom that, I believe, generally prevails through China. In the upper part of this valley many trees flourish, adding much to the beauty of the scene. Through this valley a large stream runs to the eastward, and ultimately passes into the sea; about one mile before it does so, there is a sluice, by closing which a large quantity of water is directed into the various canals that intersect this valley, forming an easy means of irrigation and communication. The spot where this sluice is situated has become of considerable importance, it being the point nearest the city which heavy-laden boats can approach at high-water. Several shops and buildings are situated in this neighbourhood, and a good stone bridge crosses the stream. Many other bridges may be seen in this valley. The whole space of these flat lands is generally covered with water, or in such a damp muddy state as to render it out of the question to attempt to cross the fields; so that the passenger must confine himself to the narrow causeways by which they are divided; and these seldom exceed three or four feet in breadth, the centres of which are flagged with granite, affording a dry and comfortable foot-path; though, from the Indian file in which you are obliged to advance, conversation is effectually stopped. The city of Ting-hai is situated in this fertile valley of Yung-tung, which has just been described, and is about three-quarters of a mile from the sea. It is of an irregular pentagonal form, environed by a stone wall about three miles in extent. This wall is twenty-two feet in height and fifteen in thickness; four feet of the above height forming the parapet, which is two feet through. Twenty-two square towers, placed at irregular distances, defend the walls. Four gates, answering to the cardinal points of the compass, give admission to the city. Each gate is flanked by two towers, and supported by an outer gate, defences at right-angles protecting the inner one. Round four sides of this pentagonal and about thirty feet from the walls there is a canal thirty-three feet broad. The fifth side is formed by a steep hill, up which the wall extends, a large bastion being formed on the top of it. The wall continues VOL. II. 2 D on the ridge of this hill, the outer sides of which are precipitous, when it again descends and unites to the western end of the southern face. From the canal a branch passes into the city through a water-gate, and intersects it in every direction; thus affording an easy means of conveyance and communication to the citizens; but forming at the same time in many places large squares of stagnant water, which in the hot weather become very offensive, and add to the many other causes of malaria existing in this filthy city. The streets are narrow, ill-constructed, and dirty, having sewers running down the centres of them, which discharge themselves into the canals. The houses for the most part are built of wood, which is beautifully varnished; but the temples and principal buildings are constructed of brick or stone plastered over with a kind of gypsum, being mostly surrounded with a plain wall. On entering these dwellings, little met the view except beautiful specimens of carved work in wood, with which this city abounded; but cleanliness had not been attended to, and these desolate and dirty houses reminded one of a plague-struck city. From the southern gate a straight road led down to Taoutow, the seaport or suburb of the town; numerous lanes leading down to the wharfs and jetties intersect this road, which, passing on the western side of the Joss-house Hill, terminates in a Large square platform, on which the troops first landed. The Joss-house Hill is about two hundred feet in height, and about eight hundred yards from the city, which it completely commands. On its southern side is a large temple, or joss-house, which is approached from the square beneath by a handsome flight of stone steps. Had this spot been properly fortified and well defended, it would have cost us many valuable lives to have taken it. The Chinese do not put their departed friends into large holes in the earth, but place the coffin on it; when it is either covered with matting, earth, or a tomb is erected over it, many of which were seen much resembling the common tombs in England; but these generally appeared to be of great age. The coffin is formed of wood, about four inches in thickness, the upper and lower edges of the sides are deeply carved, the ends being fitted in on the same plan, which gives to this last resting-place a handsome and substantial appearance. The temples or joss-houses of Ting-hai are among the finest in China. entering the large and deep gateway of the great temple a colossal figure is seen seated on each side; the right-hand one being the warrior Chin-ky, while the one on the left is Chin-loong; but a high railing prevents the curious from touching them. After examining these seated giants you pass to a large open quadrangle, one side of which is appropriated to the dormitories of the priests, and the other consists of a long narrow apartment, with altars before three of their gods, who occupy armchairs, having elegant lanterns suspended before them. THE CITY OF TING-HAI. ISLAND OF CHUSAN. 103 The first is an aged figure with a long black beard, apparently sleeping; the countenance expressing the most perfect repose. The second is a female, the goddess Teenhow, the queen of heaven. The third is a male figure with eight arms, newly gilt, and apparently lately established in his domicile: he is, no doubt, of Indian origin. The fourth side of the quadrangle is occupied by the temple. No sooner do you step clear of the screen which is before the door, than you are struck by the magnificence of the carving and the colossal Budha, seated on the lotus flower. This figure, in its sitting position, is at least fifteen feet in height. On its right and left are seated two other figures, the whole representing the triad, or three precious Budhas. These three figures are gilt. The forefinger of the left hand figure measures eight inches in length. Behind these figures are mirrors, made of the famous pe-tung or white copper, which is only found in the province of Yun-nan, which, when polished, is not easily distinguished from silver. Many of these mirrors are from three to four feet in diameter. Passing round a large square building behind the Budhas, you find a row of thirty of his disciples, as large as life, of different ages and sexes, all in a standing posture, but in different attitudes. These figures are also richly gilt; the play of the human passions is exquisitely depicted in their countenances; and though they are too corpulent and fat for our ideas of proportion, they are true to the Chinese standard of beauty. On the whole they are good specimens of the fine arts in China. Another temple, in which the commissariat department were quartered, possessed also some beautiful specimens of sculpture. Kwan-yin, the goddess of mercy, riding on a dolphin in a troubled sea, distributing her acts of grace and exhibiting her power to save, would have been looked upon as a splendid piece of art had it been discovered in Greece instead of a small Chinese island. Before the principal image of this temple stands a large, massive, and elaborately carved table; on which are jars filled with a fine blue earth for fixing the joss-sticks into when burning. Accompanying these are round vases filled with fortune-telling sticks, which are flat pieces of Bamboo, painted with vermilion, and having Chinese numbers and characters on them. If a Chinaman is about to set out on a journey, to make a purchase, or perform any other transaction of life, he comes and takes out one of these sticks; when, by the characters on it, he is referred to a leaf of some of the small books which hang up in the temple, and by what he there reads he decides on giving up or persevering in his intended act. The Temple of Confucius is situated in a most romantic spot, embowered in trees. But time has done its work: many parts are fast falling into decay. The dry masonry of the wall is beautiful; it is a sort of Mosaic work-every stone fitting with the greatest niceness, so that you could not introduce the point of the finest knife into the interstices. In addition to these there may be seen many smaller temples; and every dwelling of any importance has a joss-house or temple of ancestors attached to it. Ting-hai possesses a foundling-hospital, and one for decrepit and aged persons; and three arsenals containing cannon-balls, bows-and-arrows, flags, and clothing for the troops. Their rockets, which were neatly arranged, were the most childish weapons that can be imagined; in size equal to a two ounce rocket, with a small iron barb at the end. They generally discharge them in showers of thousands at a time, which were admired by us for their beauty, but never dreaded by us for any mischief they were likely to do. The guns were of the most miserable description, but curious from their extraordinary shape and antiquity; several were mere bars of iron hooped together. Many of the arms were sold, others destroyed, and some sent home to England.-Abridged from Bingham's Narrative. FAIRFAX AND THE COUNTESS OF DERBY AT LATHAM HOUSE. THE heroic defence of Latham-House by the Countess of Derby is well known. It was relieved by Prince Rupert after its mistress had gallantly maintained the siege for eighteen weeks against two thousand men. This lady; a daughter of the illustrious house of Trimville, or Tremouille, in France, defended the Isle of Man, with the sovereignty of which the family of the Earl of Derby was invested, with equal courage; but seven years after the relief of Latham, that is, in 1651, she was reluctantly compelled to yield to the parliamentary forces. She retained, says Hume, the glory of being the last person in the three kingdoms, and in all their dependent dominions, who submitted to the victorious commonwealth. Her husband suffered death for his attachment to the cause of Charles the First. The characters of this noble pair are thus drawn by Lord Clarendon. "The Earl of Derby was a man of unquestionable loyaly to the late king, and gave clear testimony of it before he received any obligations from the court, and when he thought himself obliged by it. The king, in his first year, sent him the garter; which, in many respects, he had expected from the last. And the sense of that honour made him so readily comply with the king's command in attending him when he had no confidence |