[VOL II] THE HEA HILLS, NEAR CHAOU-KING-FOO

THE HEA HILLS, NEAR CHAOU-KING-FOO

Cover Image: The Hea Hills, near Chaou-king-foo / ZhaoQing GuangDong China / Drawn by T. Allom Engraved by E.Brandard – ALAMY Image ID:2X4BD3D

*It showcases the natural scenery around Zhaoqing, GuangDong.

“Thy tide washed down the blood of yesterday,
And all was stainless; and on thy clear stream
Glass’d with its dancing light the sunny ray:
But o’er the blacken’d morning’s blighting dream
Thy waves would vainly roll, all sweeping as they seem.”

IN the western district of the province of Quang Tong is an extensive mountain-group, the parent of many a noble river, the depository of many a valued mineral, and the natural nursery of numerous precious woods. So bold are the forms of the cliffs and the crags in this alpine region, that in some instances they impend completely and arch over the river’s bed; and the bases of the hills, which the waters separate, are often so worn and hollowed, that this cavernous feature is everywhere prevalent, and particularized by the local term of Hea. At Hea-kew, the rays of a meridian sun are unable to penetrate; and the wonders and the beauties of its limestone grotto, with a cascade tumbling through it, are only rendered visible by reflected light.

Ten miles east of Tchaou-king-foo, is a celebrated pass on the river Tcho, between the Hea hills; and near it three rivers meet, forming the noble highway of commerce, by means of which communication with Canton is maintained. The heights of the Hea are famed in story, as having been the arena of a sanguinary conflict. Under the Woo dynasty this district was reduced to submission by Poo-chih, the censor of Keaou-chan, and being obstinately resisted by Hang-e and Tséen-twan, on the plateau of Hea-kew, the latter were overthrown with miserable slaughter; and the crimsoned waters, as they flowed past Canton, gave melancholy evidence of the fatal fray. It was immediately after this scene of destruction that the miraculous metamorphose of a flock of sheep into an equal number of stones, took place—performed by the tutelar deity of the fallen party, to frustrate and to famish the victors. The scene of this extraordinary change still bears the characteristic name of Ling-yang-hea.

Nature has been lavish not only of her picturesque charms, but of her richest productions, in the region of the Hea hills; and there is not a spot of land along the banks of the majestic river, which, with much of the Rhenish character, forces its passage between these mountains, on which a village, or farm, or cottage, could be planted, that is not fully occupied—wealthy master-miners, or foresters, dwelling on the most favoured and delightful little promontories, the industrious labourers on the hills and the slopes that rise above them. In some instances the population, those especially engaged in conveying the produce of the district, whether ores or timber, to Canton, live perpetually upon the water; and a rude raft, securely united, is often the site of a whole floating village, the tenants of which neither own nor seek another home. In the mountains of Tse-hwey are rich silver mines; tin is found at Tih-king-chou and Lung-shwey-héen; iron ore, at Kaou-yaou; and, at Lang-heang, a stone much valued for making palettes, on which the natives grind the Indian ink. Several varieties of stone procured here are employed for this purpose: some are of a deep purple colour, others red streaked with purple, and a third kind of a bluish purple—these, when accurately ground, and formed into palettes, are sold for a thousand pieces of gold.

Besides ores of tin, silver, and iron, in the same metalliferous region are obtained gold, quicksilver, and precious stones; and here pewter, brass, and steel are manufactured. Every species of intertropical fruit abounds, and rose and iron woods are indigenous. To the treasures of the district nature has added many objects of adornment, accompanied, however, with an equivalent alloy. The peacock, so much admired in England, is a native of the hills of Hea, and his companions, the feit-tsuy particularly, are decked in green plumage of equal splendour; but a hideous black monkey, hih-yuen, and the hea-shoo, a venomous rat, bold enough to attack any species of animal, and whose bite is fatal, also claim the privilege of a home in this earthly paradise. The river is infested by an animal resembling the English otter, but much more fierce, and whose attacks upon the flocks and herds that stray too near the banks are often attended with the most destructive consequences.

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