Chusan--china

The Island of Chusan is seven miles r rom the mainland, nntl forty miles distant g rom the city of Ningpo, and lies in ie vicinity" of all the great and valuble niarts of commerce on the eastern oast. lt is 150 miles in circumference. 'hechiefbay, thot of Tinghae, iscapable 8) f accommodating, in perfect security, a y undred sail ofsquare-riggedvessels, and c ossessos the most admirablefocilitiesfor ie iriliü-'nment of docks. Good water bounds, not only at the capital, but t( iroughout the lslaud. Chusnn consistsof ' succession of hills and dales, which b snt one unbroken scène of rich s on, and exhibit the most lovely scenery. b; Vheat, rice, ten, grass-cloth, sweet ,r Des, cotion, tobáceo, and other articles g, row in great luxuriance. The island is p itersected with ronds - not intended for 'heeled conveyances - from five to sevcn jet broad, and pavedand flnggedthroughut, and it is thickl y studded with villages, j 'hose who have the best opportunity of lli irming an opinión on the subject, believe ot ïat a hundred well populated towns and ei illages would be found on it, containing w ■om one to five thousand inhabitants. The af hole populction is estimated at 270.000. p( he people are industrious and m e, and appear to have no want j1( lied, scarcely a beggar is to be seen, a{ nd there is a comparative absence of ,. rime, which reflects no small credit on ie Chinese character. Not a single c omicide has oceurred during tho three ears in which it has been in our ei ation, and the inmatcs of the jail, ■ h -ibuted by the wliole island, have rarely d xceeded twenly, and tho mnjorty have h onsisted of those whowere confined for , he Ilegal sale of its indigenoUs whisky, j, ho shamshoo. . Tho climate vies with that of the most r avored regions in the world. It is the .lontpelier of China. There are but three ■ rionths which can be called hot, June, uly, and August. In this latter month a he thermometer stands on an average at ( ;3 deg-, butsinksatnightto73deg. The t lext month it sudsides to 74 deg. in the t ay. Then comes winter, with its bracing, ! ivifying, exhilarating influences, and he ground iscovered with hoar frost, and ( he ice lies halfan inch thick. In January ind February the thermometer stands at 50 deg. of Ft. In March it rises to 28 log., but tho hills continue to be capped vith snow, and the cheerful fire is kept up intil the commencement of June, so that . t is only during three months oftheyear ! hat woollen clothing is unnecessary. All i :he other places in China where we have iominercial stations are hot, sultry, and jnheallhy, and it is toChusau that invalids liave generally resorted for the restoration fhealth and vigor. The Island furnishes provisions of every description, of the est quality, at a very moderate price. , Beef, pork, and poultry mny be obtained in the greatest abundance. Of geese, as arge as those in England, there is no lack Ducks are hatchcd by steam by thousands, ind eggs are less than a half penny a piece. Game of every variety is easily frocured. Bread, of Énglish quality, is r#adily prepared by the Chinese. All kinds of vegetables may be obtained, and Knglish vegetables and fruit grow with j ;reat luxuriance. Potatoes have now been introduced, and will probably become an ( srticle of great consumption throughout China. Indeed, all kinds of provisions ' inav be obtained at one half the sum they i ;os't at Hong-Kong. lt is only for a European want to be known, to be immediaiely suppüed from the Island or the continent. Fish is obtained in the greatest n.bundauce. Fishing is universal around the island, and it is calculated that nol fewer than 70,000 vessels come from the continent, and remain for three mmiths oiFChusan employed in fishing. They are ottended by boais filled with ice, in which the iish are packed, and then dispatched to the neighboring coast. 1