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TOPOGEAPHY. 281
Most of the unsubdued aborigines are tall, vigorous, and extremely active.
Their gait has been compared by Guerin to that of the anthropoid apes. But the
greatest variety of features prevails amongst these tribes, the faces of some being
flat, of others as regular as those of Europeans. But many, with their large
prominent eyes and restless glance, have a scared look, as if bereft of their senses.
Goitre is common in one tribe, and skin diseases very prevalent in the interior.
The teeth are often dyed red by the constant use of the betel-nut, and in general
much more regard is paid to ornament than to dress. Both sexes wear copper
bracelets, coarse glass necklaces and girdles, bone plaques, and tinkling bells.
The men pierce the lobe of the ear for the reception of a bamboo cylinder
ornamented with designs, and all the unsubdued tribes still practise tattooing.
Everything is regulated by traditional usage. Although there is no public
worship, the daily actions are largely guided by omens, and all must be buried
on the very spot where they die. Head-hunting is still practised, and a wooden
platform attached to every house is usually adorned with the heads of their Chinese
victims. But this pursuit cannot be continued much longer, for the independent
natives have already been reduced to about 20,000 altogether, divided into a
multitude of clans, which successively fall an easy prey to the ever-advancing
colonists.
The already reduced tribes, collectively called Pepo-hoan, have become largely
assimilated to the Chinese. Most of them have ceased to practise tattooing, and
now wear the Fokien dress. Amongst them the Catholic and Protestant mission-
aries have been most successful, and the accounts of the Formosan people hitherto
published by European travellers refer mainly to this Pepo-hoan element.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Formosa, where Western influences have long been at work, promised at one
time to become a European colony. The Dutch had obtained a footing in the
Panghu Archipelago so early as 1621, and soon after set up their factories on the
mainland, where the present city of Taiwan-fu is situated. But the young settlement
was soon surrounded by hostile Chinese communities, and finally surrendered
in J(>62 to the pirate Chingching, better known in Europe by the name of Koxinga.
Under his rule the English traded directly with Formosa ; but after the definite
establishment of the imperial authority in 1683, all foreign traffic was suspended
till the year 1858, when the island was again thrown open to Europeans.
Taiicnn, the capital, which has given its name to the whole island,
is a modern
Chinese city lying at some distance from the coast, and enclosed by ramparts 6 miles
in circuit, within which are extensive gardens, cultivated lands, and pagodas.
It is noted for its filigree-work, and dues u considerable trade in sugar, exported
chiefly to Australia. Some 24 miles south of Taiwan are the ports of Takow and
Tamgkaag, besides the large town of Pitrin, lying about 5 miles inland from the
former place. Farther north the city
of Siitc/ioic exports rice and wheat through
its outport of Htmgtcmg. But a more important place is Tamvhui (Tamsui,
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