Identifier: narrativeofexped01perr (find matches)
Title: Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China Seas and Japan, performed in the years 1852, 1853, and 1854, under the command of Commodore M. C. Perry, United States Navy, by order of the government of the United States
Year: 1856 (1850s)
Authors: Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858 Hawks, Francis L. (Francis Lister), 1798-1866
Subjects: United States Naval Expedition to Japan (1852-1854)
Publisher: Washington : A. O. P. Nicholson
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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there is a walk extending a mile or more to a Buddhist temple ; but there is little thatis attractive in the surrounding country, and nothing peculiar about the temple, which issimilar to the other joss houses. On a visit which was made to this spot by one of the officers CANTON. 137 of the expedition, a drove of sacred pigs were seen in their sacred styes, and they seemed toflourish exceedingly, for they were so fat that they could not stand. It was something of acuriosity (though somewhat saddening in the reflections it occasioned) to behold this sanctifiedpork, and the reverence with which it was worshipped. Canton is the capital of the province of Kuan-tong, from which the name given to the city byEuropeans has been corrupted. It is falsely applied, for it is the name of the province only, as wehave just said; that of the city is Kuang-chow-foo. The city is built on two rivers, the Choo-Keang,or Pearl, and the Pi-Keang, which is a branch of the former. The mouth of the Choo-Keang,
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View of Old China Street, Canton. Pearl, or Canton river, is called the Bocca Tigris. It derives this name from the supposed resemblance of the hill tops, on Great Tiger Island, to the outline of a tigers head. Although the resemblance is not at first very striking, it becomes quite obvious after examination. Tlie river is guarded at its mouth, and at several points on its banks, by C^linese forts, which, with their white-washed walls and general pacific aspect, do not appear very formidable. The view, however, is pleasing, particularly at the Bocca Tigris, where the forts could be seen stretching their long white walls from the base to the summits of the hills. On one side is seen the Dragons Cave, and on the other the Girls Shoe, and various other fortifications with fanciful names ; and though some of them are admirably situated, they are all of a structure which prove them to be more remarkable for show than for solid utility. The river swarms with pirates, the fishermen occasiona

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