ISLAND OF HAINAN.

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junks. In two months a junk is finished-the sails, ropes, anchor, and all the other work, being done by their own hands. These junks are then loaded with cargoes, saleable at Canton or on their native island; and both junks and cargoes being sold, the profits are divided among the builders. Other junks, loaded with rice, and bones for manure, are usually despatched for Hainan.

During my residence in Siam, I had an extensive intercourse with this people. They took a particular delight in perusing christian books, and conversing on the precepts of the gospel. And almost all of those, who came annually to Bankok, took away books, as valuable presents to their friends at home. Others spoke of the good effects produced by the books, and invited me to visit their country. Humbly trusting in the mercies of our God and Redeemer, that he will accomplish, in his own time, the good work which has been commenced, I would invite some of my brethren to make this island the sphere of their exertions, and to bring the joyful tidings of the gospel to a people anxious to receive its precious contents.

As soon as the first promontory of the Chinese continent was in sight, the captain was prompt and liberal in making sacrifices, and

*

the sailors were not backward in feasting upon them. Great numbers of boats appeared in all directions, and made the scene very lively. We were becalmed in sight of the Lema islands, and suffered much from the intense heat. While there was not wind enough to ruffle the dazzling surface of the sea, we were driven on by the current to the place of our destination, Soakah, in Chaou-chow-foo, the most eastern department of Canton province, bordering on Fuhkeen. This district is extensive, and closely peopled. The inhabitants occupy every portion of it; and must amount, at a moderate calculation, to three or four millions. Its principal ports are Ting-hae (the chief emporium,) Ampoh, Hae-eo, Kit-eo, and Jeao-ping. The people are, in general, mean, uncleanly, avaricious, but affable and fond of strangers. Necessity urges them to leave their native soil, and more than 5000 of them go every year

*The Chinese characters, and, consequently, the mandarin pronunciation, of this and several other names in the following pages, we are unable to ascertain; Mr. G. having only inserted in the MS. he left with us the names of the places, according to their Fuhkeen pronunciation. Ting-hae is Ching-hae-heen, and Jeao-ping is Jaou-ping-heen. Hae-eo, and Kit-eo, we believe to be Hae-yang-heen, and Kee-yang-heen. Soakah (or Shan-keo,) is a small port near the mouth of the Jaou-ping river. Ampoh is the same as Gan-po.

CHAOU-CHOW FOO.

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to the various settlements of the Indian archipelago, to Cochin-China, and to Hainan, or gain their livelihood as sailors. Being neighbours to the inhabitants of Fuhkeen, the dialects of the two people are very similar, but in their manners there is a great difference. This dissimilarity in their customs, joined to the similarity of their pursuits, has given rise to considerable rivalry, which frequently results in open hostility. But the Fuhkeen men have gained the ascendency, and use all their influence to destroy the trade of their competitors.

Our sailors were natives of this district, and anxious to see their families after a year's absence. As, however, our junk had no permit, we could not enter the river of Soakah, but had to anchor in the harbour of Nan-aou, (or Namoh,) whilst passage - boats came in all directions to carry the men to their homes. Rice being very cheap in Siam, every sailor had provided a bag or two, as a present to his family. In fact, the chief thing they wish and work for, is rice; their domestic accounts are regulated by the quantity of rice consumed; their meals according to the number of bowls of it boiled; and their exertions, according to the quantity wanted. Every substitute for this

delicious food is considered meagre, and indicative of the greatest wretchedness. When they cannot obtain a sufficient quantity to satisfy their appetites, they supply the deficiency of rice with an equal weight of water. Inquiring whether the western barbarians eat rice, and finding me slow to give them an answer, they exclaimed; "O, the sterile regions of barbarians, which produce not the necessaries of life! Strange, that the inhabitants have not, long ago, died of hunger!" I endeavoured to show them that we had substitutes for rice, which were equal, if not superior to it. But all to no purpose; and they still maintained, that it is only rice which can properly sustain the life of a human being.

When most of the sailors had left the junk, I was led to reflect on their miserable condition. Almost entirely destitute of clothes and money, they return home, and in a few days hurry away -again to encounter new dangers and new perils. But, however wretched their present condition may be, their prospects for eternity are far more deplorable. Reprobates in this life, they tremble to enter into eternity, of which they have very confused ideas. They defy God, who rules over the seas; they curse their parents,

HARBOUR OF NAMOH.

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who gave them life; they are enemies to each other, and seem entirely regardless of the future; they glory in their shame; and do not startle when convicted of being the servants of Satan.

It was the 17th of July when we anchored in the harbour of Namoh. The island, from which this harbour takes its name, is mostly barren rock, consisting of two mountains connected by a narrow isthmus, in lat. 26 deg. 28 min. N.; long. 116 deg. 39 min. E. It is a military station; it has a fort; and is a place of considerable trade, which is carried on between the people of Fuhkeen and Canton. The harbour is spacious and deep, but the entrance is difficult and dangerous.

The entrance of the Soakah river is very shallow; but numerous small craft, principally from Ting-hae, are seen here. The duties, as well as the permit to enter the river, are very high; but the people know how to elude the mandarins, as the mandarins do the emperor. Ting-hae is a large place, tolerably well built, and inhabited principally by merchants, fishermen, and sailors. The productions of the surrounding country are not sufficient to maintain the inhabitants, who contrive various ways and means to gain a livelihood. There is no want of capital