Page:The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. Volume 34, 1864. (IA s572id13663720).pdf/215

Rh As a commodity for steam purposes its value has been often tested. It is found to burn too rapidly, giving out an unpleasant—somewhat sulphurous—stench, and leaving large quantities of light ashes. For small high-pressure steamers it is of little use, besides being dangerous. From its inflammable nature the boats can carry little more than enough for one day’s consumption; and the smoke is so thick and heavy that it often ignites the flues. Mixed with Welsh or other good coal it has been found serviceable for large steamers; and for such purposes its cheapness may ensure it a good future trade. In China it is much used among Europeans for domestic stoves; but the communities at the different ports are too small to create a large demand; and it does not seem to be in much request among the Chinese of the mainland, who prefer the dull-burning and equally cheap anthracite worked in many parts of China.

Not far from the coal-mines in North-west Formosa occur the sulphur-mines. Of these I am acquainted with two, which are not many miles apart, and are, I should fancy, subterraneously connected. The first of these, situated between Kelung and Tamsuy, I visited in 1857, when I communicated to the Shangai Society the following note of my visit:— “The sulphur-mine appeared at a distance like a canker on the side of the grass-covered hill, which was fresh and green everywhere, except in the immediate vicinity of the mine. The broad sulphur valley or chasm had everywhere a pale sickly tint of yellow and red; and out of many of its numerous recesses hot steam gushed in jets with great noise and force, like the steam from the escape-pipe of a high-pressure engine. In other spots small pools of pure sulphur were bubbling. At the bottom of the barren ravine rippled a foul rivulet, carrying off the sulphurous oozings from the ground. Within and round about this hollow the earth underfoot rumbled and groaned, and the air was so saturated with the exhalations of sulphur as to become extremely noisome, and destructive to insect life especially, of which we saw abundant proof in the numerous remains of beetles and butterflies scattered around.”

The second sulphur-mine is situated on the side of a hill on the north bank of the Tamsuy River, about 8 miles distant from the harbour. From the north branch of the river, 2 miles beyond the gorge, a little stream bears you well across the plain, from which a land-travel through paddy-fields, and over the lower range of hills, brings you, after a two miles’ walk, to the mines. The mould on these hills was very black, containing large quantities of lignite; and in it, some 200 or 300 feet above the sea, were planted tea and pineapples, side by side, both appearing in flourishing condition. The sulphur-mine was here as before, a barren patch among the hills, about 400 feet above the sea, and occupying a