FORMOSA, called by the Chinese Tai-ouan,t and by the natives Kaboski and Gadavia, is an island subject to China, lying between 22° and 23° North Lat. and between 3° and 5° East Long. from Pekin. It is situated about 30 leagues from the coast of the province of Fokien ; and is above 80 leagues in length from north to south, and nearly 08 in breadth from east to west. Though lying within so short a distance of the continent, it does not appear to have been known to the Chinese till the year 1430, nor for many years afterwards did they avail themselves of the discovery. It was merely visited in 1564. by the commander of one of their squadrons, when he subdued the little islands of Pongho, which lie about midway between it and China. In 1582, a Spanish ship sailing from Macao to Japan, was wrecked on the coast, and brought the first accounts of the country to Europe. About the year 1620, a Japanese squadron left a party on the island, in the view of return big to effect its subjugation; but, in the mean time, a Dutch ship having touched there in its course from Japan, it appeared to be so eligible a station for a commercial t 5 tablishment, that they built fort Zealand in 1631, and thus secured possession of the principal harbour. In 1 G61 they were driven from the settlement by the celebrated Cuinese pirate, Tchin•tc hi-kong, or Cox inga, (See CHINA, Vol. V[. Part 1.) who made himself master ()I the western part, and held the sovereignty of the island during his life ; but, in 1682, his grandson Tchin•ke-sun, submitted to the authori ty of the emperor Kang-hce; and the island, since that period, has been tributary to China. By a chain of moun tains running from north to south, it is divided into two parts, called the western and eastern provinces, the latter of which is still occupied entirely by the native Indians, and the forme' contains the settlements of the Chinese. It is subject to the Viceroy of Fokien. but a governor with a large detachment, generally of 10,000 men, resides con stantly on the island. Tai ouan, the capital city and the seat of government, is situated on the south-west coast in 23° North Lat. and 3° 32' 50" East Long. from Pekin. It is a large and populous place, full of trade, and equal to several cities of the first class in China. The streets are remarkably straight, about 40 feet broad, and some of them a full league in length ; but they are badly paved, and the houses meanly built of clay and bamboo, and thatched with On account of the excessive heat of the sun, the streets are covered, during seven or eight months of the year, with awnings, which leave nothing to be seen but the shops on either side, in which various kinds of merchan dize, ranged with the greatest order and show, present a rich appearance to the eyes of the passenger. The town
has no walls or any kind of defence, unless a large edifice, built by the Dutch, and proteced by four demi-bastions, may be considered as a fort. The harbour is good, but its entrance is becoming daily more difficult. The city is said to contain every necessary of life and article of traffic; both foreign commodities, such as Chinese and Indian cloths, silk stuffs, porcelain, and European goods ; and also the productions of the island, cotton, hemp. rice, sugar, salt, tobacco, dried stags flesh, fruits of all kinds, and abundance of medicinal herbs.
The western province contains, besides the capital, a number of smaller towns and populous villages, in which the Chinese permit none of the native inhabitants to reside along with them, except those who act in the capacity of slaves or domestics. It appears that the Chinese popula tion of the island would increase with great rapidity, if the government would permit free emigration from other parts of the empire; hut permission to new settlers is granted with great caution, and only upon the payment of a consi derable sum for the proper passports. The reason is, that the Tartar emperors are always apprehensive of a revolt among their Chinese subjects ; and the proximity of this island to China, would render it a favourable field for the operations of malcontents. The district, which the Chi nese possess, consists of extensive and fertile plains, water ed by numerous rivulets, which flow from the mountains towards the east. The climate is temperate, except when the sun is vertical, and the air is serene and pure, cooled even in the hot season with constant breezes. The soil is in general mountainous, but naturally productive. Besides most kinds of grain, which it yields in abundance, there are found in the country the principal Indian fruits, such as oranges, bananas, cocoa-nuts, guavas, papaws, pine ap pies; and many of those which are common in Europe, particularly peaches, apricots, figs, grapes, pomegranates, water melons ; cinnamon, sugar, pepper, camphire, tobac co, are also among the ordinary productions of the country; and the mountains contain mines of gold, silver, copper, and sulphur. There is no good water to be found in the whole island ; and strangers are said to suffer greatly from its bad qualities. There are few horses, sheep, goats, or hogs, on the island (but the inhabitants breed a great number of oxen, which they train For the purpose of riding ; and be ing early accustomed to this kind of service, they are said to go very securely and expeditiously. Domestic fowls are reared in great plenty. The finest deer wander in large herds through the country. Tygers, leopards, monkeys, and every kind of game, abound in the forests; and the ri vers furnish abundance of fish.