942
CANTON
were supplanted by the English. The latter, towards the close of the seventeenth century, founded the very profitable trade which was conducted for nearly one hundred and fifty years by the Agents of the East India Company, who established a factory there in 1684, which was afterwards celebrated throughout the world. From 1684 the export of tea to England increased rapidly. The Company's monopoly terminated in 1834. In 1839 Great Britain was led to a declaration of war with China in consequence of the oppression to which foreigners were subjected by the native authorities, and Canton was menaced with capture in 1841. A pecuniary ransom was,
A pecuniary ransom was, however, received in lieu of the occupation of the city, and hostilities were for the time being suspended. The lesson, unfortunately, was without effect, and the arrogance of the Chinese authorities continued unabated. The British campaign in Central China ensued, and the result was the signature of the Treaty of Nanking (August 29th, 1842), by which what was called the Co-Hong monopoly at Canton was abolished and four additional ports were thrown open to foreign trade. Nevertheless, the provisions of the Treaty continued to be ignored in the City of Rams, and foreigners were still denied admittance within its walls. The result of protracted annoyances and insults was that in October, 1856, Sir Michael Seymour, with the fleet, again opened hostilities, and some two months later a mob in retaliation pillaged and burned all the foreign residences. In December, 1857, Sir Charles Straubenzee, in command of an expedition which had been specially despatched from England, attacked the city, and it was taken on the 29th of that month. The French also sent out an expedition, and the city was occupied by the Allied Forces until October, 1861, a period of nearly four years.
The city proper extends to a breadth of about two miles, is about six miles in circumference, and was formerly enclosed by walls 43 ft. thick at the base and from twenty-five to forty feet high. The desire for reform and improvement on modern lines is shown by the recent demolition of the old city wall and utilisation of the site for a fine motor road, from 80 ft. 100 ft. wide, and six miles long, along which tramway lines are to be laid. This work was carried out by the Municipal Council, which was established in November, 1918. Numerous buildings of an improved type have recently been erected, notably the new premises of the Sun Co., a building of nine stories, on the Bund. The suburbs spread along the river for nearly five miles. The entire circuit, including the suburbs, is nearly ten miles. What is now caled the New City was formerly known as the Southern Suburb. The Western Suburb stretches for miles along the river. There were sixteen gates giving admission into the city, besides two water gates. Canton contains great attractions for foreign visitors in its numerous temples, pagodas, etc., and in the many curio shops to be found there. As a specimen of Chinese architecture, the Chin Chew Club is well worthy of inspection, and the Examination Hall, the City of the Dead, the Execution Ground, the Gaols, the Arsenal, an ancient Water Clock, the Mohammedan Mosque and the fine ancestral temple of the Chan family are among other show places. The French Mission have a large and handsome Gothic cathedral, with two lofty towers surmounted by spires, in the city. The structure is entirely built of dressed granite. A Mint, constructed by the late Viceroy Chang Chih-tung, near the East Gate, and furnished with a very complete plant, commenced work in 1889, and now issues silver dollars and subsidiary coins, as well as copper cents. The buildings cover a large area. On the opposite side of the river the Honam Temple and Monastery form the principal attractions, and in the same neighbourhood the firing, sorting and sift- ing of tea, the preserving of ginger, and the packing of rattans, cassia, etc., may be seen. The founding of bells and the dyeing of paper and cotton fabrics are two of the chief industries of Fatshan, some ten miles from Canton. There are large glass-works at Fatei, and paper-mills-these with up-to-date European machinery near the village of Impo. At Shekwan, seven miles from Fatshan, are extensive potteries. Much has been done during the past year or two to develop home industries. New factories have sprung up like mushroonis. At Honam an up-to-date cotton spinning factory, equipped with modern machinery, has been erected by a local company with a capital of 5 million dollars, and is expected to produce sufficient yarn to meet local requirements. Canton has now five large factories and several hundred workshops for producing socks and underwear, the trade in which is flourishing owing to the high cost of the foreign-made article. A foundry for the manufacture of copper sheathing from ore mined in the province is working with satisfactory results. Locally-made matches are exported as far as the Straits Settlements. The population of Canton has been estimated at 2,500,000 by the Customs authorities.
When the foreign merchants returned to Canton to establish trade after the capture of the city by the English at the close of 1857, they found the factory and the buildings