FOOCHOW
901
edifices, and are much resorted to by visitors. Game abounds in all the ravines and mountains in the vicinity of Foochow, while tigers and panthers are common in the more remote hills, and some of these beasts have been killed within ten miles of the city.
Foreign vessels are compelled to anchor at Pagoda Island, owing to the shallow- ness of the river, which of late years has been increasing the difficulties of navigation; even at the anchorage the river is still silting up in several places. A river-training scheme is now in progress for improving the navigational approaches of Nantai Harbour (.e., the harbour of Foochow proper). The aim in view is the elimination of lighterage at Pagoda Anchorage for all cargo that can be brought into the port in steamers drawing up to 17 feet. An incidental benefit will be the reclamation of great tracts of sandbanks and their ultimate recovery for cultivation. The limits of the port of Foochow extend from the City Bridge to the Kimpai Pass. The Mamoi Arsenal, near Pagoda Anchorage, is an extensive Government establishment, where several good-sized gunboats have been built, but it now stands practically idle. The Arsenal was bombarded by the French on the 23rd-24th August, 1884, and reduced to partial ruin, but was restored. The establishment was later reorganised, and was for some years administered by French experts. There is a dock in connection with the Arsenal on Losing Island. The dock is over 300 ft. long and has very powerful pumps and a good steel caisson. Until 1905 one mint, known as the City or Viceroy's Mint, served to supply the coinage requirements of the local province, but in that year the Government set up two additional mints, for which there was no need, but only an alluring prospect of profit on the export and sale of copper 10-cash coins. It was calculated that two million pieces per day were being turned out by the three mints. The market value of the coins quickly fell below par, and orders from Peking reducing the output to 300,000 coins per day and forbidding the export of coins to other provinces necessitated the closing of the two mints before they had been in operation twelve months. In June, 1900, the port was visited by the most disastrous floods known there in living memory; the river, rising through heavy rains, overflowed and deluged the country, sweeping away villages and causing immense havoc and loss of life. The population of Foochow is estimated at 650,000.
The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs in 1919 was $20,740,234, as compared with Hk. Tls. 15,642,219 in 1918, Hk. Tls. 15,223,269 in 1917, Hk. Tls. 20,114,610 in 1916 and Hk. Tls. 19,247,779 in 1915.
KULIANG
A refuge from the heat of summer at Foochow can be gained by a four hours chair ride to the top of Kuliang, i.e., "Drum Pass," which is a mountain resort situated about nine miles east of Foochow. The thermometer indicates an average of 10 degrees cooler on the mountain than it is in Foochow ; the nights are always cool and blankets a necessity for comfort. Dr. Rennie was the first to build a house of foreign design at Kuliang in 1886. Now there are upwards of one hundred such houses, and every summer between two and three hundred persons, chiefly missionaries, are in residence on the mountain. According to the Admiralty Chart, Kuliang reaches a height of 2,900 feet. Nearly five miles of stone-paved roads about three feet in width have been made under the supervision of a Public Improvement Committee, appointed by the residents, the necessary funds being provided by voluntary contribution. The greatest charm of Kuliang is the mountain walks, and there are many interesting places within easy walking distance. An Imperial Chinese Post Office is opened at Kuliang every year from the middle of June to the middle of September, and daily mail connection with Foochow is maintained. There are many private tennis courts and two public courts on the mountain, also a swimming pool, as well as mountain streams, where swimming can be enjoyed. Sharp Peak, also, affords a seaside and bathing resort which is much appreciated by Foochow residents. The American missions and the Anglican Mission each have sanatoria there. It is also the place of landing of the E. E., A. & C. Telegraph Co.'s cables.