churn with
a "splasher" revolving inside and turned by a handle. The modern type of
churn, in large dairies worked by mechanical means, either revolves or
swings itself, thus reverting to the most primitive method of
butter-making, the shaking or swinging of the cream in a skin-bag or a
gourd. (See DAIRY.)

CHUSAN, the principal island of a group situated off the eastern coast
of China, in 30 deg. N. 122 deg. E., belonging to the province of
Cheh-kiang. It lies N.W. and S.E., and has a circumference of 51 m., the
extreme length being 20, the extreme breadth 10, and the minimum breadth
6 m. The island is beautifully diversified with hill and dale, and well
watered with numerous small streams, of which the most considerable is the
Tungkiang, falling into the harbour of Tinghai. Most of the surface is
capable of cultivation, and nineteen-twentieths of the inhabitants are
engaged in agriculture. Wherever it is possible to rear rice every other
product is neglected; yet the quantity produced is not sufficient for
the wants of the inhabitants. Millet, wheat, sweet potatoes, yams and
tares are also grown. The tea plant is found almost everywhere, and the
cotton plant is largely cultivated near the sea. The capital, Tinghai,
stands about half a mile from the southern shore, and is surrounded by a
wall nearly 3 m. in circuit. The ditch outside the wall is interrupted
on the N.W. side by a spur from a neighbouring hill, which projects into
the town, and forms an easy access to an attacking force. The town is
traversed by canals, and the harbour, which has from 4 to 8 fathoms
water, is landlocked by several islands. Temple (or Joss-house) Hill,
which commands the town and harbour close to the beach, is 122 ft. high.
The population of the entire island is estimated at 250,000, of which
the capital contains about 40,000. Chusan has but few manufactures; the
chief are coarse cotton stuffs and agricultural implements. There are
salt works on the coast; and the fisheries employ a number of the
inhabitants. In Tinghai a considerable business is carried on in carving
and varnishing, and its silver wares are in high repute. The principal
exports are fish, coarse black tea, cotton, vegetable tallow, sweet
potatoes, and some wheat. Chusan was occupied by the Japanese during the
Ming dynasty, and served as an important commercial entrepot. It was
taken by the British forces in 1840 and 1841, and retained till 1846 as
a guarantee for t