Artworks

In 1844, Braine donated his second plant to the Horticultural Society. At the bottom of the terrace on which the house stands there is a long narrow bamboo avenue, which is called the “Orchid Walk”. This always affords a cool retreat, even at mid-day, as the rays of the sun can only partially reach it, and then they are cooled by the dense foliage. Here are cultivated many of the Chinese orchids and other plants which require shade.
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.

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