EMBASSY TO CHINA.
»hShlS Part> ° f hard sharp rocks; and at about a mile and a
YeUow sta. quarter from the shore, is a dangerous reef, covered at
high water, extending nearly a mile east and west, round
which the water shoals so suddenly as to render any approach
to it very perilous; At Tett-choo-foo is constructed
a kind of dock, or bason, for vessels, to load or
discharge their cargoes. The entrance into it is between
two piers, and is from thirty to fortyifbefc in width. The
ground hear the sea coast is richl y. cultivated, and rises
in a gentle ascent, which is terminated by high;ibjf6k?env
and barren mountains apparently granitieab $ji f
The passage between Ten-ehoo-foo. and tire; Mi-a-tau
islands is called, in the chart, the strait of Mi-a-tau J
The rise and fall ajfaitfae
seven feet. The flood tide funk east*jtowards -theMSea,
from whence it naturally should flowc’ The>ehh,;cnstft®T
contrary, which properly is the reflux ofrthe water into
the sea, is here carried from it to the westward, into; the
gulf of Pekin. This extraordinary phenomenon, does
not arise from the position of the Mi-a-tau islands, Whose
size bears too small a proportion to the large surface of
the sea, out of which they rise like so many points, to
impede the progress, or change the direction, of the tide.
A consideration of the northern boundaries of the Yellow
sea may lead to a more satisfactory explanation. A
strong tide, setting from the southward through the passage
between the eastern promontory of Shan-tung and
/
EMBASSY TO CHINA.
the peninsula of Corea, continues its northerly and impe- through the
tuous course till impeded by the coast of Lea-tang. This r,mam —
resistance* forces it along that coastJ» the westward, and
to the gulf of Pekin, where it follows the smooth sandy
beach in a curve direction, according to the shape of the
gulf, until it arrives at Ten-choo-foo, with a degree of
strength sufficient to counteract, and even overcome, the
weakened efforts of the eddy tide, setting round the projecting;'
point of the Shan-tung province.
As soon as the governor of Ten-choo foo was informed
that the Embassador was on board the Lion, he
sent to him a present, consisting of fresh provisions and
fruit, and afterwards came on board to visit him. The
governor was attended by a great number of persons; one
of whom having had occasion to speak to him as he was
passing along the ships deck, immediately threw himself
upon his knees,, and, in that posture, communicated
his business, to the great surprise of the English spectators:
a surprise that was heightened by the undisturbed
countenance of the governor, as if accustomed to be accosted
in that manner. This instance of the extreme
distance between ranks did not seem, however, to proceed
either from any particular haughtiness on the
one part, or abjectness on the other ; but indicated
the respective disposition, brought about by forms, established
for inducing habits of subordination in society.'
Such we considered, indeed, in China, as con