[Illustration: MAP OF HONGKONG. REFERENCE 1 West Point Barracks 2 West Point Battery 3 Chinese Bazaars--and Market 4 Chief Magistrate, and Police Office 5 Harbour Master 6 Governor's Residence 7 Barracks 8 Bazaars 9 Artillery Barracks 10 East Battery 11 Hospital--Military 12 Cemetery 13 Seamen's Hospital 14 Morrison Education Society 15 Tower and Guard 16 } 17 } Military Stations 18 } ] The southern side of the island of Hong-Kong was visited by Capt. Hall, in the squadron which conveyed Lord Amherst's embassy to China in 1816; and it is, therefore, worth while to repeat here the observations of Dr. Clarke Abel Smith upon that occasion. The bay in which the vessels anchored was near the village of Shekpywan, and was then called Hong-Kong Sound. It was described as "being formed by several small islands, by which it is land-locked on every side, and of which Hong-Kong is the principal." "As seen from the deck," says Dr. Smith, "this island was chiefly remarkable for its high, conical mountains rising in the centre, and for a beautiful cascade, which rolled over a fine blue rock into the sea." This was in the beginning of July. The rocks on that side of the island were found approaching to basalt in compactness of structure. In ascending the principal mountain which was near, he followed the course of a delightful stream, which rises near its summit; and was much struck with the extreme barrenness of the surface of the mountain, and, indeed, of every part of the island which he was able to visit. "Yet, at a distance," says he, "it appears _fertile_, from the _abundance of fern_, which I believe to be the polypodium trichotomum, [of Kæmpfer,] which supplies _the place of other plants_." By the side of the stream, however, he found several interesting plants. Among them the Beckia chinensis; myrtus tomentosus in abundance, and in full flower; melastoma quinquenervia; and several orchideous plants, of which he could not determine the varieties. There were a great number of ferns, but not a single moss of any description. He adds that he was unable to reach the summit of the mountain, in consequence of the excessive heat, which, at eight A.M., raised the thermometer to 83° in the shade, while the sun's rays, to which he was necessarily exposed, darted through an unclouded atmosphere with an almost intolerable effect, and raised the mercury to 120°.