the eye in quick succession. Huge rocks of granite, majestic in their barrenness, have cascades of crystal water gushing down their sides, which, intercepted at the base of the mountain, glide smoothly along some wooded valley or glen, until the waters flow into the river. Some of the mountains, two thousand six hundred feet above the level of the sea, are cultivated, being laid out in terraces to the very summit, while frequently at their base are temples in shady glens, where the banyan-tree flourishes in luxuriant pride. The banks of the river, for about a mile and a half from the city, are lined with boats which serve as residences for the owners, who deck them out most gayly with porcelain flower-jars; and the boatwomen of Foo-chow-foo, who are rather a good-looking race for Chinawomen, adopt a peculiar sort of head-dress, of artificial-flowers, which has a very good effect; altogether these ladies are rather neat and particular in their attire. Blue, white, and red flowers appear to be most in favor; and the country-women, who man these boats, bring poultry, vegetables, fruit, and water for sale, with a coiffure as well arranged as a Swiss girl's on a fete-day. The neighborhood of the river Min and Foo-chow-foo is often termed by foreigners the "Switzerland of China," from its bold, beautiful scenery. During the war, the Chinese caused the river to be blocked up a few miles below the city: old junks, stones, and all descriptions of rubbish, were placed nearly the whole way across the river, and vessels of any size are obliged to anchor off Pagoda island. The natives of Foo-chow-foo are a disorderly, turbulent people, evincing a fixed and rooted dislike to Europeans, and constant acts of aggression and insult are heaped upon an Englishman when he appears in the streets. They do not, however, confine their lawless acts to the Europeans, as they are the most determined pirates who infest the seas. Mr. Alcock, the British consul, says that "every junk, meeting another weaker than itself, becomes a pirate." Near Foo-chow-foo, porcelain is manufactured in large quantities for exportation; and it is stated by the Chinese that more than five hundred furnaces, or baking-houses, are in constant requisition and full employment. This statement is undoubtedly an exaggeration, though there are beyond question more than three hundred ovens that are kept fully occupied; some of this chinaware is remarkable for the brilliant beauty of its green coloring; but the principal exports consist of earthenware of a coarse description. A brisk trade is carried on with the neighboring province of Keang-sy in native produce. Medicinal herbs and drugs are imported from Tien-sing and Shan-tong, while furs are brought from Shansi for home use. Foo-chow-foo is as renowned for its manufactory of blue cotton, as it is celebrated for the manufacture of chinaware; the blue cotton which is dyed here is famous all over China for its beauty of color and durability of texture. The inhabitants are wealthy as a body, and foreign manufactures might be introduced among them with great success. Many of the native mercantile firms issue promissory notes for sums varying from five hundred cash, or about fifty cents of our currency, to one thousand dollars; these notes bear the name of the firm which issues them, with the date; and the party who receives or pays away these notes places his name under that of the original issuer. When these notes are new, they have a very gay and brilliant appearance, with their bright colors of red and blue relieved with black; but after they have been in circulation a very short time, all their pristine beauty vanishes, and they have, if not a "national odor," certainly not a very agreeable one. A trifling charge is made by the firms who issue these promissory notes; and, as bankruptcy rarely happens, this paper currency is highly valued, being more convenient to transport or transmit than sycee silver, dollars, or copper-cash. The Chinese state that this species of banking system is carried to a greater extent in Foo-chow-foo than in any other city in China; and the principles of commerce are more fully developed than could be credited, were it not that we see it exemplified in their monetary transactions. The traffic (although contraband) in opium at this port is considerable; and it is computed that from five to nine chests are retailed daily in the city; while-to the disgrace and shame of Great Britain-armed opiumclippers are allowed to lie at the mouth of the river Min. It is stated that two and a half millions of dollars' worth of opium is annually imported into Foo-chow-foo, whence it finds its way into the interior. The Chinese assert that the inland trade has materially decreased, owing to the constant call for sycee silver to pay for the drug, which is smuggled along the coast as far as Chin-chew, one hundred and sixty miles south of Foo-chow-foo, where a large fleet of opium-clippers lies, belonging, we regret to say, to some of the oldest and wealthiest firms in China. In the city of Foo-chowfoo alone, more than one hundred houses are devoted to the smoking of the drug, while as many more retail the accursed poison in small quantities. How much better, even in a commercial point of view, would it be for British merchants to minister to the lawful wants of the people in China, than to pander to their vices; as trade must stagnate when energy and industry subside, which invariably is the case when man becomes an opium devotee. NINGPO. NINGPO lies in latitude twenty-nine degrees forty-five minutes north, and in longitude one hundred and twenty-one degrees twenty-two minutes east ; is situated on the banks of the river Tahee, and in the province of Chekeang: the town of Ningpo is about twelve miles distant from the sea, being in a westward direction from the cluster of the Chusan islands. The splendid plain of Ningpo is of a semi-circular form, and is nearly fifteen miles in extent, one side stretching to the boundary of the sea, and the other extending to the base of the gray mountains. The city is nearly five and a quarter miles in circumference, and is surrounded by walls about twenty-four feet in height, of immense thickness, as the masonry at the base measures twenty-one feet, and at the upper part of the wall, sixteen feet. In this wall are six gates, over each there is a guard-house, where sentries are stationed; and there is an inner gate attached to each of the preceding, which is placed about sixty feet from the principal, or outer one. A moat, of nearly three and a half miles in extent, and eighty feet in width, partially surrounds the city, the water being of sufficient depth to enable small craft and boats to navigate it. The city contains some fine wide streets (for China), and is most densely populated, the number of inhabitants being estimated as exceeding five hundred thousand; the pagoda of Ningpo, called the temple of the heavenly winds, Tien-foong-tah, is a handsome building of seven stories, of very ancient date and construction, and although now falling into decay, exhibits proofs of the former grandeur and beauty of the decorations. There are also a triumphal arch, and a joss-house, which are noble structures; the former has a screen of beautifully-carved figures of elephants, and other Asiatic animals, delineated on it, and the date of the erection is four hundred and five years ago. The latter building is of great size, the roof being supported by massive columns, and the ceiling is painted in arabesque, relieved by coverings which are either silvered or gilded. The inhabitants of this city employ themselves in various ways; the greater portion of the females occupy themselves in manufacturing cloth and mats: a coarse description of carpet or rug is also made here, and the silks and embroidery of Ningpo are celebrated: inlaid furniture is manufactured in great variety, and is of extreme beauty; the figures are made either of mother-of-pearl, ivory, or a different kind of wood to the one of which the piece of furniture is manufactured. The poorer classes who reside in the city and suburbs are agriculturists, fishermen, boatmen, mechanics, and artisans of every description. The moral condition and character of the people of Ningpo are bad, as they are gamblers, thieves, and liars (but we believe they are not worse, or so bad as many of their brethren); they love money, are poor, and care not by what means the god which they worship is obtained; they are not quarrelsome, and except in extraordinary circumstances, or provocation, will not resort to personal violence. Ningpo is a place of considerable native trade, and there are several banking establishments in the city which have correspondents and connections in all the northern towns and cities; in fact, it is at Ningpo that the value or price current of specie is regulated, a mongrel stock-exchangé being held there, where money and "stocks" rise and fall in price as they do in New York. At present, foreign merchants do not appear to patronize this port, as but few have establishments there, giving as their reason, that they find a readier sale at Shang-hae for European and American commodities, being |