Directory_and_Chronicle_1904

WENCHOW

Wan-chau

Wênchow-fu, one of the five ports opened to foreign trade by the Chefoo Conventi is the chief town in the department of the same name occupying the south-east cor of Chekiang province. The city is situated on the south bank of the river about twenty miles from its mouth, in lat. 27 deg. 18 min. 4 sec. N., long, 120 deg. 38 m 28 sec. E. The site is a well cultivated plain, bounded on all sides, but at a distance some five miles, by lofty hills. The walls are said to have been first erected during fourth century, and enlarged and re-built by the Emperor Hung Wu in 1385. They formed of stone, diagonally laid at the foundation, and partly also of brick, and meas about four miles in circumference. The streets are wider, straighter, and cleaner tl those of most Chinese cities. They are mostly well paved with brick and kept in care repair by the householders. They slope down on either side to waterways, which their turn communicate with canals permeating the whole city. There are numer large nunneries and temples in Wênchow. The Custom-house, outside the chief g known as the Shwang Mến or Double Gate," the Taotai's Yamên, the Prefect's: other public offices in a cluster, and the Foundling Hospital, all near the centre, are other chief buildings. The latter institution, built in 1748, contains one hund apartments. Among the objects of greatest interest and curiosity to the stranger two pagodas situated on “Conquest" Island, abreast of the city. They are both of gr antiquity and, with the houses close by, were for some time the retreat of Ti Ping, the Emperor of the Sung dynasty, when seeking to escape from the Mongols under Kul Khan. The British Consul and the Customs outdoor staff occupy foreign built hou on the island. His Majesty Ti Ping has left behind him autographs preserved this day in the adjoining temple. The estimated population of the city is 80,0 There were Boxer troubles in the Ping-yang district, several native Christians be murdered in 1900, and all the missionaries left Wenchow, where, however, the offic were able to maintain order. The Roman Catholic Missionaries have a conspicuo looking Cathedral in the Western part of the city. The English Methodist Mission a handsome church, capable of seating about a thousand people, also a hospital : dispensary. In 1903 the same Mission further erected a fine college at a cost $20,000, containing sleeping accommodation for over a hundred students and teachi accommodation for more than two hundred.

There is no foreign settlement at Wênchow, and the foreign residents are a m handful, consisting almost entirely of officials and missionaries. A large quant of native opium is produced in the vicinity of Wenchow. There is a considera native export trade in wood, charcoal, and bamboos, brought down the river rafts from Ch'u-chow. The annual value of the trade is estimated to be ab $3,000,000. The shops and yards engaged in it are situated in the west suburb, wł immense quantities of bamboos and poles are kept on hand. Wênchow is 1 celebrated for its oranges, which rank second important in the export tr The total export of Tea in 1902 was 26,411 piculs as against 13,097 piculs in 1901. value of the net trade of the port coming under the cognizance of the Foreign Cust for 1902 was Hk. Tls. 1,916,355 against Hk. Tls. 1,460,789, for 1901, Tls. 1,459,630 1900, Tls. 1,624,516 for 1899, and Tls. 1,437,728 for 1898.

SPAIN, Consulate

Con. Offic'g-R. H. Mortimore (N

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