Directory_and_Chronicle_1907

WENCHOW

863

antiquity and, with the temples between, were for some time the retreat of Ti Ping, the last Emperor of the Sung dynasty, when seeking to escape from the Mongols under Kublai Khan. The British Consul and the Customs outdoor staff occupy foreign built houses on the island. His Majesty Ti Ping has left behind him autographs preserved to this day in the adjoining temple. The estimated population of the city is 80,000. There were Boxer troubles in the Ping yang district, several native Christians being murdered in 1900, and all the missionaries left Wenchow, where, however, the officials were able to maintain order. The Roman Catholic Missionaries have a spacious and imposing Cathedral in the Western part of the city. The English Methodist Mission has a church, capable of seating about a thousand people. In 1903 the same Mission erected a fine college at a cost of $20,000, containing sleeping accommodation for over a hundred students, and teaching accommodation for more than two hundred. Early in 1906 an extensive and substantially constructed Hospital was also completed by this Mission at an outlay of fully $20,000. The building consists of a central block and two wings, after the style of Hunt's Block, Guy's Hospital, and can accommodate about two hundred patients.

There is no foreign settlement at Wênehow, and the foreign residents are a mere handful, consisting almost entirely of officials and missionaries. A large quantity of native opium is produced in the vicinity of Wenchow. There is a considerable native export trade in tea wood, charcoal," and bamboos, brought down the river on rafts from Ch'u-chow. Manufacturos do not flourish, a soap factory failing, and a towel factory being on the wane. The annual value of the trade is estimated to be about Tls. 3,000,000. The shops and yards engaged in it are situated in the west suburb, where immense quantities of bumboes and poles are kept on hand. Wenchow is also celebrated for its oranges, which rank second important in the export trade. The total export of Tea in 1905 was 16,495 piculs, against 25.590 piculs in 1904, 38,935 piculs in 1903, 26,411 piculs in 1902, and 13,097 piculs in 1901. The value of the net trade of the port coming under the cognizance of the foreign Customs for 1995 was Hk. Tis. 2,235,259 against Hk. Tls. 2,340,700 in 1904, Hk. Tls, 2,589,333 in 1903, Hk. Tls. 1,916,355, in 19-2, lk. Tls. 1,460,789 in 1901, and Fik. Tls. 1,459,63 ) in 190).

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