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Capt. H. Troubridge--Strus Sunking

No person has yet reached the highest peaks or explored the interior.  The tribes of the mountains are not hostile but they offer no assistance to travelers.  The southern half of the island is said to have a tropical or Indian fauna & the northern a Chinese identical to the Canton mainland Only 5% of the island is cultivated less than 9,000,000 somewhat.
Cooless months are December & January.  There are no small rodents listed from Hainan, only the larger mammals are known.  From one anchorage at Hon-How only two [[crossout]] a few [[/crossout]] two low hills can be seen, the land generally being very low but forest covered over by cocoa palms & other trees of commercial & economic value.  Channel 60 fathoms in middle.
23 [[encircled]] Dropped anchor at  Hoi-How at 2:30 p.m. Afine breeze was blowing in the channl.  Water a dirty yellow at anchorage where it is only 3 fathoms deep, some 3 miles from above.  A long line of mud flats keep steamers far out.  The town