Whilst employed in collecting some sea-weed floating about the ship, I observed a species of Physalia, so small and transparent that I at first mistook it for an air-bubble; but on catching it in my hand was soon convinced of my error, for wrapping its long tendrils round one of my fingers it stung like a nettle, but with much more severe effect. In about five minutes the pain in my finger abated, but an uneasy sensation extended up the inside of my arm, which soon terminated in an aching pain in the arm-pit, accompanied by a sense of restriction in my chest : within fifteen minutes all uneasiness ceased.

The Pinus sinensis, which is met with on the sides of every barren hill, both in the south and north of China, and which is generally badly used by the natives, who lop off its under branches for fuel, is here growing as it ought to do. The Chinese have been prevented, not without some difficulty, from cutting off the under branches, and the tree now shows itself in its natural beauty.

On the other side of the main walk I observed several specimens of the Indian “neem” tree (Melia Azedarach), which with great vigor, but is rather liable to have its branches broken by high winds, owing to the brittle nature of the wood. Next to it, there is a plant called Tetrapanax papyrifer that is being cultivated.

Chop down the maple tree, to
create all things on earth.
Turn sawdust into fish roe,
wood chips into bees,
and in the heart of the tree foster butterflies,
while tree bark turn into moths,
tree knots into owls,
hooting throughout the night,
leaves turn into swallows,
to soaring hawks and falcons,
with only treetops left,
swaying brilliantly in the wind,
turning to a trailing bird,
embracing butterfly eggs.

Having laden myself with all the specimens of plants and rocks, which I had the means of carrying, I returned on board the Alceste. At day-light the following morning, I again visited the land, and directed my researches to a small island separated from Hong-kong by a channel not more than a hundred yards wide. It afforded me very few plants except the Polypodium trichotomum, but it presented several geological facts of much interest.

We experienced nothing to excite our apprehension till the evening of the 9th of July, when the sky exhibited such novel though brilliant appearances, as led us to fear that they would be followed by formidable changes of weather. The course of the sun, as it sunk beneath the horizon, was marked by a vivid glory expanding into paths of light of the most beautiful hues. They were composed of sheets of glowing pink, which diverging at equal distances from the sun’s disk, darted upwards from the horizon, diminishing in intensity of colour, till they vanished in the azure of the surrounding atmosphere.

I want to show you the scenery and inhabitants of Hong-Kong, but of either I have little to say. Its scenery is composed of barren rocks, deep ravines, and mountain-torrents, but presents few characters of a very picturesque description. Of its inhabitants none were seen but some poor and weather-beaten fishermen, spreading their nets, and drying the produce of their toils on the rocks which supported their miserable mud-huts. number of its population. Patches of rice, small plantations of yams, and a little buck-wheat, which are remnants of the old society.  Annie, 1963

On entering the garden at its lower side there is a wide chunamed walk leading in a winding manner up the side of the hill, in the direction of the house. On each side of this walk are arranged the trees and shrubs indigenous to the country, as well as many of the fruits, all of which grow most luxuriantly. Camellia hongkongensis is one of the most common plants here, and walking up the mountain, there are white camellias blooming all around. The flowering period for the Camellia hongkongensis is in October, November, and December. The seeds I gave to Hook were collected in September 1951.

This mountain, the highest on the island, is, according to Captain Ross, who has measured it, about one thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea, and is composed of trap approaching to basalt in the compactness of its structure.
In ascending it, I followed the course of a delightful stream which rises near its summit, and found by its side a number of interesting plants; amongst them the Beckia chinensis, Myrtus tomentosus, in abundance, and in full flower, Melastoma quinquenervia, several orchideous plants, a variety of ferns.

The general surface of the mountain, and indeed of every part of the island of Hong-kong that I was able to visit, is remarkably barren, although in the distance it appears fertile, from a fern which supplies the place of other plants.
I am coming back next month, and with me a few Tetrapanax papyrifer (the rice-paper plant) with me, hoping you could see their flowers.

Dear Andrew,
Today I visited the late Mr. Beale’s garden at Macao, who is an ardent botanical collector. Nearly the whole of the English residents left Macao and went to Hong Kong when that island was ceded to England, and all the plants in Mr. Beale’s garden which could be moved with safety were brought over in 1845 and planted in the garden at “6 Green Bank.”

The wind continued steady, and the sails which had been furled were again spread to a favorable breeze, that enabled us to join Sir George Staunton off the Great Lemma Island on the following morning.
The inhabitants of the Lemma Islands who came off to us in their boats were of a light copper colour, and very athletic : they managed their well constructed bamboo vessels with great dexterity. In the evening the squadron weighed and stood for Hong-kong, one of the Ladrone Islands.

Wong Shun Yu