THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH MARCH, 1880,
WÊN-CHAU-FU.-This city was founded and its wall built about 374 A.D., tradition asserting that the site w chosen on four hills because of a superstition connecting these with four stars in the constellation of "Ursa Major.” Subs quent to the building of the wall, 28 wells were sunk to correspond with the 28 constellations in the heavens.
Nên ch
is a prefecturial city (or one of the first class, entitled to the title "Fu"). The Prefect has jurisdiction over six other eiti a
of the second and third class.
Population. The native population is estimated at from 100,000 to 200,000;* there were also 23 Europeans resident at Wen-chau in 1878.
Government.-The city is governed by a civil governor (Too-tai); there is also a military governor or “ Currency. The currency of Wên-chau is chop dollars by weight, and copper cash.
Chen-tai
Postal communication.-Thero is a Chinese post overland to Ningpo, and thence by steamer. There is 17-9 a Chinese Government courier to Ningpo, starting weekly and traversing the distance in 4 days; the mail thus carried forwarded on by steamer in 12 hours to Shanghai. There is also return communication.
Trade. The new treaty port of Wên-chau has not yet shown signs of inuch commercial activity, but there can be litte doubt that, with sufficient enterprise and direct intercourse with the great inland marts, this port should assume importanc in connection with the foreign tea trade. Tea-growing districts abound in the neighbourhood, the majority of which are to the south-west. The transit of this and other produce is by canal, by which means it can be brought direct to Snipe island or Lower anchorage.
Exports are tea, opium (native grown), rice, charcoal, planks, bamboos, building spars, &c., and the district is rich in iron and alum.
Imports are salt fish, sugar, and cotton, by junks.
In the latter nine months of 1877, 19 vessels entered the port of Wên-chau of an aggregate tonnage of 7,486 tons, and during the same period 21 vessels cleared, their tonnage amounting to 7,508 tons.
Medical Notes.-The prevailing. diseases of Wên-chau are cholera, ague (from the country district), ophthalmis, small-pox, enthetic disease. The town from the number of its priests, nuns, and temples has been christened the cathedral city." Cases of opium poisoning are frequent. Elephantiasis is met with. Leprosy is very rure. Though the diseases be- fore alluded to exist, they are confined to the native population, and the city may be considered generally healthy for a Chinese town. The best season of the year, from a sanitary point of view, is during the months of December, January, and February, and the most unhealthy June aud July,
Quarantine.-The medical officer of Customs reports any suspected vessel, and the pilot is ordered to anchor such vessel oue mile below the shipping, at the Lower anchorage.
PIHQUAN HARBOUR.‡-A shoal was found by the U.S.S. Ashuelot off Pihquan harbour, which was ob served to break with a heavy swell from the eastward; soundings were afterwards obtained upon it in 4 fathoms (natives say only 3 fathoms at low water), and from it the following bearings were taken:-
South point of Ping Fong island,.
East extremne Chinquan,
Pih pass,
which would place the shoal in lat. 27° 7 N., long. 120° 31′ E.
N.E. by E. E. N.W. W.
N. E.
Aymer rock,§ off the river Min, on which the U.S. barque Benjamin Aymer struck in 1878, is incorrectly spelt Ayma in Hydrographie Notice No. 17 of 1878.
Chino peak, the bearing of which is given in Hydrographie Notice No. 36 of 1878 as a means of determining the position of Arnold rock in Chino bay, has been placed by Captain Napier, with
West White Stone bearing,... Yellow Stone,
N. 43° W.
N. 35° W.
South extreme of islet, lying 3 miles south of Kicshi-wei,......... N. 14° E.
Gordon rock. -The rock marked on Chart No. 1754, China East Coast, sheet VI., as lying 2 cables W.S.W. of the small islet off the west point of Gordon island, and hitherto unnamed, has been examined by H.M.S. Nassau.
It lies 4 cables W.N.W. of the islet off the west point of Gordon island, dries 7 feet at low water spring tides, and is steep-to, 9 to 11 fathoms being obtained all around except on its north-east side, where shoal water extends three-quarters of a cable.
From the rock—
North point of Gordon island bears,
Changchi peak,..
N. 53° E.
S. 20° E.
South Claret rock....
N. 72° W.
Islet. North-west, 14 cables, from the north point of Gordon island, is a small islet, 10 feet high, the space between it and the point being foul.
Rock. The rock lying N. 56° E., distant 14 miles from the north point of Gordon island, is about 25 feet high. Pihseang islands.-The rock recently reported eastward of East Fihseang island, was ascertained by H.M.S. Nassau to be distant 3 cables from the shore. It dries 6 feet at low water spring tides.
From the rock-
North-east end of Town island bears, North point of East Pilscang island,.. East point of Country island,..
N. 47° W.
N. 66 W. S. 30° W.
SHANGTUNG PROMONTORY.-Actæon shoal was searched for by H.M.S. Magpie in August 1879, in the two positions hitherto assigned to it, viz., lat. 36° 31′ N., long, 122° 28′ E., and lat. 36° 31′ N., long. 1222 31′ E., but The conditions under which the search was made appear to have been favourable for finding shoal water. This shoal has therefore been expunged from the Admiralty charts.
without success.
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London,
13th December, 1879.′
* Lieut. von Riche, of the German Imperial Navy, gives the number at 50,000. See Annalen der Hydrographic, Heft. 11., 1878.
From reports and observations of Dr. Myers, medical officer of Customs, 1878.
See Admiralty Chart, China East Coast, sheet 6, Ragged point to Pih-ki-shan, No. 1754.
See Admiralty plan of river Min, No. 2,400, and Notice to Mariners, No. 60 of 1878.
See Admiralty Chart No. 1963.
See Admiralty Charte, Nos. 1,262, 2,412, and 1,754; also, China Sea Directory, vol. iii., of 1874, pages 276,281.