Sketches from Formosa.

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SKETCHES FROM FORMOSA
However, from personal observation along the eastern
and western coast-lines, I should like myself to see a
beginning made to provide some harbour outlet for
Taichu at such a place as Hwan-oah. In former years,
a considerable carrying trade went on there, and within
the natural harbour formed by neighbouring sand-banks
now much silted up on the eastern side five or six good-
sized junks could still ride out the severest typhoon.
On a visit I am now referring to, Mrs. Campbell and
myself spent five weeks among the Po-li-sia villages, that
inland region having been reached by us across the moun-
tains from Taichu City, and travelling by way of Thaw-sia,
Ku-a-thau, Pak-kang, and Sio Paw-sia. One thing which
arrested my attention on the second day of our journey
was the immense amount of timber which had been
recklessly
cut down and allowed to lie and rot on the
ground ; a very objectionable practice
which the
Authorities had put a stop to, as it was no unusual thing
for the Po-li-sia Sek-hwan to destroy hundreds of most
valuable trees in this way ;
their object being to give the
savages less opportunity for making their stealthy murderous
attacks upon travellers, or on deer-hunting parties
out from Po-li-sia and the West. The sight of so much
waste, and of the still untouched forests on every side,
reminded me of the fact that, many years ago, two of my
fellow-countrymen settled down at a place several miles
south from Saw Bay in the hope of carrying on a profitable
trade in preparing and exporting wooden battens which
carpenters and wood-turners could work up into all sorts
of articles ; but who had to leave under orders from the
British Consul just when their labour was beginning to
yield very satisfactory returns.
I suppose it was this train of thought, with the dashing
rivers we frequently crossed, which reminded me of
another little incident I met with long ago in our own