A486
SAMSHUI
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traffic is large, and the abolition of the likin station at this port and at the stage ports-Shiuhing and Dosing from the beginning of 1931 was undoubtedly a great boon to merchants. This was evidenced by the fact that the number of cargo junks have since increased remarkably. The district city of Samshui itself was surrounded by an imposing wall built in the 6th year of Chia Ching of the Mings (about A.D. 1560), the year after the place attained to the dignity of a magistracy. This wall was completely demolished in 1930 and the tract of land obtained thereby was transformed into a circular maloo, and some of the bricks were used for the con- struction of a public garden, known as the Chung Shan Garden, which was formally opened by the Magistrate on the 28th June, 1930. In the town, where dwell the. magistrate and the commander of the few local troops, the space is but half occupied by poor dwelling-houses and one small street containing provision shops. Outside the North Gate which has now disappeared stands an imposing temple temp. Chia Ch'ing of the Ch'ing Dynasty (Circa 1800). Between the town and the river is a fine nine-storied pagoda, rebuilt during the reign of Chia Ch'ing, some 100 years ago.
The business focus of the district is Sainam, a large well-built town of no great antiquity, three miles distant, on the creek leading to Fatshan. At Sainan there is established an electric plant which supplies Samshui with light.
Two sets of steamship lines converge here from Canton and Hongkong, respec- tively, and tourists in China can do many worse things than visit the West River which presents more beautiful scenery than is to be found on any steamer route in China the Yangtsze gorges, perhaps, excepted. Since 1st May, 1905, Samshui has been made a port of entry for foreign steamers going up the West River. Numerous steam launches carrying passengers or towing passenger-boats ply between Sam- shui and neighbouring cities on the West and North Rivers and on the creek leading to Fatshan and Canton. A railway line from Canton to Samshui via Fatshan was inaugurated on the 26th September, 1904, and six trains run daily each way between Canton and Samshui. The climate of the port is as healthy as any in the delta. In the summer, frequent squalls cool the air, and it is seldom that there is not a breeze of some kind; in winter, the air is fresh and clear. The waterways and surrounding country are picturesque, and the adjacent heights offer pleasant walks. Excursions of one or two days enable one to climb Mt. McCleverty (,2000 ft.), at the mouth of the Samshui Reach; or Ting Hu Shan (4,000 ft.), behind the celebrated temple known to foreigners as "Howlik," near which is to be found the popular bathing pool and fall; or the hills forming the first gorge, from which used to be quarried the famous ink-stone known throughout China as Tuan Yen. Perhaps the most interesting of the sights in the neighbourhood are the Seven Star Hills, which are situated close to the pleasant town of Shiu Hing, some 30 miles from the port. These hills, formed of pure white marble rising to a height of about 400 feet from the plain, hold many temples-some apparently clinging to the sides of the cliffs-and caves and grottoes. The fine bronze figures of more than life-size in one of these e temples are well worthy of attention. Fair snipe shooting can be obtained in the winter, and an occasional pheasant, partridge, quail or duck may be added to the bag. The attractions of good sport and pleasing surroundings have made Samshui a week end resort for some of the Canton community confined to the small island of Shameen."
A telegraph service is maintained from Sainam. A nice building for the Post Office, situated alongside the road leading from the railway-station to the stone jetty, was completed and opened to the public on September 9th, 1921. There are no Consulates established; the Consuls within whose districts Samshui lies reside either in Canton or Hongkong.
TRADE IN 1933.
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The trade of 1933, taken all round, has been of a mostly unsatisfactory character. De The stringency of the local money market occasioned by the closure, in April 1932, of several prominent native banks in Canton, with which most of the business houses in and around this district had wide dealings, remained unrelaxed throughout the year. On this account coupled with the economical breakdown of the rural popula- tion, a deep shadow of depression was cast on nearly all branches of trale. As a result, many native banks and shops of long standing were reported having closed their doors. On 5th October, the Special Tax on Foreign Agricultural Products. imported was introduced at this port. The levy covers a wide range of foreign articles