Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/32

 28 Ling-Nam.

show the importance attached to the place as one to be held at all hazards against invading forces. Besides the land fortifications are several gunboats and a supply of torpedoes, ready to be placed in the channel should necessity require, Their estimate of the importance of this pass, which commands the entrance to the whole broad expanse of Canton waters, is not exaggerated ; and if their skill in fortification and use of the means of defence were equal to the occasion, they could hold it against almost any force. Above the Bogue the river is still very wide, and is bordered by broad fields of rice and extensive banana - plantations, with high mountains in the distance. The “ lotus-flower” pagoda stands on a lofty hill opposite the mouth of the East River, so placed as to throw back over the land the good influences which the strong current of the river would otherwise carry off to the coast.

The steamer calls at Whampoa, once the anchorage for ocean ships and the site of a busy trade, but which, since the opening of Canton as a treaty port, has sunk into insignificance, being almost forgotten in the rush of traffic between Canton and Hong-kong.

Two fine specimens of pagodas appear on the left as we proceed, and abreast the second are extensive fortifications on the island in the river and the mainland as well. Passing these, the towers of the “ City of Rams” begin to appear distinctly, the French cathedral rising conspicuous over all, both for its size and for the beauty of its archi- tecture. We are soon in the midst of the boats ‘that densely line the river on both sides for a distance of six miles, backed in some places by rows of wooden huts, set