1032
POST OFFICE, FRENCH
Postmaster-Laostau
寶森 Sum-b0
PAKHOI-HOIHOW
SCHOMBURG& Co., A., Mhts. and Comn. Agts.
Aug. Schomburg (Bremen)
L. Jüdell (absent)
W. Krone
A. Otto
H. Wintruff Agencies
Norddeutscher Lloyd
Norddeutscher Lloyd Orient Line Douglas Steamship Co., Limited North China Insce. Co., Limited Canton Insurance Co., Limited
Deutsche Transport Vers. Ges.,in Berlin
Badische Schiffahrts Assecuranz Ges. Badische Rück und Mitvers. Ges. Prussian National Vers. Ges. South British Insce. Co., New Zealand Deutscher Lloyd Transp. Vers. Act. Ges. London and Lancashire Fire Insce. Co. Asiatic Petroleum Co. Limited China Navigation Co. Limited
SCHOOL OF FRENCH LANGUAGE
A. Gérand, director
L. Gérand, professor
士機刺
SEQUEIRA & Co., Merchants and General
Commission Agents
Chun Cho Fun, agent
HOIHOW (IN HAINAN)
州瓊 Kiung-chau
Hoi-hau
Hoihow is the seaport of the city of Kiung-chow (the seat of government in the island of Hainan, and distant from its port about three and a-half miles) which was opened to foreign trade on the 1st April, 1876, but 18 years passed before there were any signs of foreign commerce. The position of the port, though geographically favourable, is topographically unsuitable for the development of any extensive com- mercial transactions, vessels being compelled to anchor some two miles from the entrance of the creek or branch of the main river upon which Hoihow is situated. The tides are extremely irregular, and the anchorage is liable to the visitation of very severe typhoons, being moreover entirely unprotected from the north. The width of the Hainan Straits, between Hoihow and the mainland-the Lien-chau peninsula-is about twelve miles. As regards health Hoihow compares favourably with other parts of Hainan. The port is badly supplied with water.
The approaches to the shore are extremely shallow, so that loading and unloading can only be carried on at certain states of the tide. Despite this disadvantage, however, the advent of foreign steamers has given a considerable impulse to trade. The town itself contains about 30,000 souls, and is governed by a Tsan-fu, or Lieutenant-Colonel; the population of Kiungchow being 50,000. The native mercan- tile population, though respectable, is by no means rich. No foreign settlement has as yet been formed, and with the exception of the Roman Catholic Orphanage, erected in 1895, the American Presbyterian Mission Hospital and doctor's residence, and the Customs Indoor Staff, the French Post Office and the French School for Chinese, the houses occupied by the foreign residents are Chinese converted into European habitations by alterations and improvements.
H.B.M. Consulate obtained a site after fourteen years' negotations, and a consulate building was in 1899 erected to the south-west of the Hospital; towards the end of 1897 afpiece of land was granted, and a French Consulate has been built on the Northern side of the river and facing Hoihow town. Since the beginning of 1899 a free school has been opened by the from the Tonkin Medical Staff was detailed to this port for the purpose of giving the natives and others free attendance and medicine. In 1903 a German Consulate was created. The foreign residents at present number about sixty-five. The net value of the trade of the port in 1908 was Tls. 7,129,298, against Tls. 6,319,276, in 1907. A large export trade in pigs, poultry, eggs, bullocks and provisions is carried on with Hong- kong. There has been some talk among the natives of opening mines, constructing railways, and bringing out timber from the virgin forests of the interior. While all this may not be realised on any scale for some years to come, it has been noticed that Customs opines that the searchlight of modern civilisation will reveal much that is
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