[VOL I] CAPTURE OF TING-HAI, CHUSAN

CAPTURE OF TING-HAI, CHUSAN

Cover Image: Capture of Ting-Hai, Chusan / DingHai ZhouShan ZheJiang China / Drawn by T.Allom Engraved by E.Brandard – ALAMY Image ID:2X3H91H

*The First Capture of Chusan（Zhou Shan） by British forces in China occurred on 5–6 July 1840 during the First Opium War. The British captured Chusan (Zhoushan), the largest island of an archipelago of that name. / From a sketch on the spot by Lieut: White, Royal Marines.

The walls grew weak: and fast and hot
Against them pour’d the ceaseless shot,
With unabating fury sent
From battery to battlement.

BYRON.

CHUSAN is not less distinguished by the beauty of its position and productions, than by its memorable connection with the history of the late war between England and the Chinese. Its harbour presents a panorama not exceeded by any analogous prospect in the world; and the security from weather, and safety of anchorage, are also perfect. Its superficial area extends about three miles in length by one in breadth, so that perhaps not more than one hundred sail of the line could float here conveniently, and the utmost caution must be used in entering, from the strong currents that prevail everywhere between the islands, and the eddies formed at their meetings. The advantage of its commercial position was fully estimated by the inhabitants at all periods, for it is known that a large and flourishing city of the third rank existed here in the second century before the Christian era, which, after several changes of name, (the last to Ting-hai,) was destroyed in the wars between the Tartars and Chinese in the reign of Shum-che, the first emperor of the Ta-tsing dynasty, but rebuilt by his successor Kang-he in 1684. Accurate geographers place the present city in latitude 30° 0′ 20″ north, and longitude 122° 5′ 18″ east. The East India company maintained an extensive factory here from the year 1700 to 1757; and when Lord Macartney visited the island in 1793, an interpreter who had been attached to that establishment was still living.

The port or dock of Ting-hai, called Chusan harbour, is seated on the water’s edge; the city, of which it forms the advanced work, lying inland rather more than a mile. One of the creeks, described in speaking of Irgao-shan, here runs up for some miles between the hills; and across its sea entrance, an embankment two miles in extent, with tide-gates and sluices, being placed, the whole reclaimed area affords a rich tract of paddy ground, intersected by navigable canals, besides a well-sheltered site for a populous city. Ting-hai does not stand upon this marshy land, but on the sloping side of the Yung-tung valley; it is surrounded by a brick wall twenty-six feet in height, sixteen in thickness, and six miles in circuit, with four entrance-gates corresponding exactly to the cardinal points. On three sides it is protected by a canal or ditch twenty-five yards broad, the fourth side being covered by a fortified hill. Slight bridges are thrown over the canal at the four gates, cut into steps like the famous Rialto of Venice, and from this trifling coincidence, in conjunction with the additional fact of the city being intersected by canals, travellers, of more ready with discerning judgment, have ventured to compare Ting-hai with the city that is “throned on her hundred isles.” The streets are narrow and paved, having a public sewer along the middle, from which nuisance, in addition to many other objectionable practices amongst the Chinese, they are passed by Europeans with feelings not far removed from disgust. Being the most eastern city in the empire, it has been thought prudent to strengthen it in proportion against the “barbarian over the sea;” and with this object three arsenals, two powder magazines, and other military establishments have been placed here. There are also several public institutions, mandarins’ residences, a Government pawn-broking office, numerous theatres, and many Buddhist temples, some of them acknowledged to be the most gorgeous and wealthy in China. Including Chusan harbour, Ting-hai has a population of 30,000 souls.

Twice, during the protracted hostilities between Great Britain and China, has this rich and beautiful position fallen before the courage and military skill of the former; and on the morning of the 5th of July, 1840, the day fixed for Her Majesty’s flag to wave over the most beautiful island appertaining to the Celestial empire, the first European banner that has floated over the flowery land.” A few words, however, will be sufficient to describe this easy conquest. At half-past two o’clock the Wellesley fired the first gun, which was answered by a whole line of war junks, the ordnance along the causeway, and on battery hill; our vessels immediately poured in their broadside, and in nine minutes Chusan’s docks, forts, and buildings were a heap of smoking ruins. Our troops landed on a deserted beach, amidst a few dead bodies, broken spears, swords, shields, and matchlocks, and moved cautiously on Ting-hai, before the strong ramparts of which they sat down for the remainder of that day. On the following morning, scaling-ladders were placed against the walls, orders to mount issued, and, “in a few minutes,” this great city was in the possession of the invaders. This may be deemed an inglorious triumph, and military men may regret that the British had not met an enemy worthy of their prowess; but every feeling heart must unite in rejoicing at that insignificance of resistance which occasioned the less loss of life. On the first of October in the following year, our fleet again returned to Chusan, to chastise the wretched inhabitants of that island for the duplicity and falsehood of their government. Headed by the gallant Keo, and fully expecting an attack, the Chinese offered a stout resistance; but he and his brave staff were slain, tremendous havoc made amongst his followers, and the tragic scene that now presented itself far exceeded the desolation that attended the first capture of Ting-hai. The total inequality between the contending parties, even when Keo, a man of resolution and ability, gave an example worthy of the highest honour to his soldiers, may be judged of from the ratio of killed and wounded. On one side numbers fell; while on the other, the British, ‘the loss amounted to two killed and twenty-eight wounded.”