MR. BARRAUD.  “The Gulf of Tonquin and the adjacent seas are remarkable for dreadful whirlwinds, called ‘typhons.’  After calm weather they are announced by a small black cloud in the north-east part of the horizon, which gradually brightens until it becomes white and brilliant.  This alarming appearance often precedes the hurricane twelve hours.”

CHARLES.  “Pray what is the cause of this dreadful ‘typhon?’”

MR. BARRAUD.  “They seem to arise from the mutual opposition of the north-wind coming down from the mountains of the continent and the south-wind proceeding from the ocean.  Nothing can exceed their fury.  They are accompanied by dreadful thunder, lightning, and heavy rain.  After five or six hours a calm succeeds; but the hurricane soon returns in the opposite direction with additional fury, and continues for an equal interval.”

GEORGE.  “Papa, there are seas of all colors, for I have actually found a Blue Sea.  Here it is, between Loo-choo and China.  What droll people the Chinese are! they have such odd names for their places.”

MR. WILTON.  “Yes; they call China Tchou-Koo, or the ’Centre of the World;’ for in their overweening pride, they consider other countries as mere strips surrounding their territory; and their names and titles are very grand.  At a distance of six hundred paces from the shore of the ‘Yang-tse-Kiang’ is the wonderful Island of Chin-shan, or ‘Golden Mountain.’  This island is covered with gardens and pleasure-houses.  Art and nature have united their efforts to give it the most enchanting aspect.  It is in the fields of this isle that the shrub grows producing the cotton of which the article known by the name of Nankeen is made.  The fibre is not white like other cotton, but of a delicate orange color, which it preserves after it is spun and woven.”

MR. BARRAUD.  “There are many noble lakes in China, particularly in the province of Howquang, which name signifies ‘Country of Lakes;’ and I remember reading of a traveller who often observed on one near the Imperial Canal, thousands of small boats and rafts, constructed for a singular species of fishery.  ’On each boat or raft are ten or a dozen birds, which, at a signal from the owner, plunge into the water; and it is astonishing to see the enormous size of the fish with which they return grasped within their bills.’  They appeared to be so well trained, that it did not require either ring or cord about their throats to prevent them from swallowing any portion of their prey, except what the master was pleased to return to them for encouragement and food.  The boat used by these fishermen is of a remarkably light make, and is often carried to the lake, together with the fishing-birds, by the fishermen themselves.”

CHARLES.  “What preposterous things people do in other countries!  How strange to train birds to catch fish!”

“Why, Charles, we have fishing-birds in England,” exclaimed George.  “The only difference between them is, that our birds fish for themselves, while the Chinese birds fish for their masters.  I have often seen the kingfishers pounce upon their prey, and I have heard of herons and storks living on fish caught by themselves.”