36.
EUPHRATĖS VALLEY RAILWAY AND CHINA.
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Lorn
(January 20, 1900.
THE PROVINCE OF SHANTUNG.
ITS TRADE, POPULATION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS.
(BY M. O's.]
Now that Prince Henry of Prussia has turned the first sod in the new German railway sys- the province as it was five years ago, and ven tom in Shantung it may be of interest to show tare a few observatious as to the future possibi- lities of commercial enterprise in this historical unit of the "Middle Kingdom."
Shantung, in the eyes of the student of a favoured province on ac- Chinese classics, count of its being the birthplace of Confucius, and many are the pilgrimages made to tho of Ch'ü-fou-hsien, situated thirty Chinese li, or tomb of the master at the quiet little town about ten English miles, east of Yen-Chou-fn. The province is also remarkable because the longest canal in the world passes through it, and likewise the Whang-ho or Yellow River waterway that has, perhaps, caused more sorrow and suffering than any other river on earth, first seizure of territory took place since the and, lastly, it was within its boundaries that the Japan-China War, marking a now orn in the affairs, not only of the Dragon Throne, but also of the Far East.
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The name of the province is derived as fol bows, namely, Shan, a bill, and Tung, east. Beth these characters are idocgraphic symbols, that is, they are intended to convey an idea in their form. The first is supposed to represent is formed of trees, and the sun shining through jagged mountain tops, i e. hills, while the second the branches is east, hence the meaning of the name Shantung is "East of the hills". possant, I may mention that powers of inference are a necessary part of the traveller's equip mont iu China!
HOW TO GET THERE,
en
Should the traveller elect to visit Shantung
steamor from Shanghai to Kinoohow bay began at present do so with caso by taking Wei-hai-wei, or Chefoo, and in each case ho is, iu traus-Pacific phraseology, "right thore."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
since the idea of a Euphrates Railway was presented to an English public. The idea was taken up by the then genera- tion of statesmen, and an exploring expedi- (Daily Press, 17th January.) Though not directly affecting Chiun, the tion under Colonel CHESNEY was sent to diplomatic victory gained by Germany in report on its feasibility. Those were the procuring the concession of the Euphrates days of & PALMERSTON, who, in spite of Valley Railway cannot be without its frequent mistakes of temper, was essentially ultimate effect on our relations with China. an Englishman, and in these days would be au Imperialist. PALMERSTON The history of the concession is a curious classed as one and reflects the current of events for a consistently favoured the railway rather than century. It was the ambition of the Great the Suez Canal, as in those days it would EMPEROR NAPOLEON to acquire for France have been entirely in British hands, while from the beginning he had his suspicious an empire in Syria, whence France was
the canal, which became in to rule the East and checkmate the advance of
the pet scheme of France. There is little of her great rival, England, in India, British victories in Egypt shattered the attempt, doubt now that PALMERSTON made one of his which, however, remained the dream of great mistakes in seeking to discredit the successive generations of Frenchmen. In 1832 canal, and it remains a blot on ROBERT IBRAHIM PASHA, instigated by the French, STEPHENSON's character that he permitted defeated the Turkish troops in Syria and bis engineering judgment to be warped for took possession of Acre. The British threw a political purpose. STEPHENSON'S Condem, in their entire influence with the Turks and nation of the canal did not prevent its being in 1840, with their armed assistance, the cita- made, but it prevented British energy and del of St. Jean was recaptured and Turkish British capital being turned to its con- rule once more established in the Levant. struction, and threw it into the hands of France. The proved success of the canal The event well nigh led to open war between France and England, which, turned men's thoughts from the older however, was averted by the Government of scheme of the railway, and Colonel KING LOUIS PHILIPPE, and for many years CHESNEY's report was shelved and almost This was asserted by the sub- England enjoyed the role of influential ad- forgotten, viser throughout the Turkish dominions. sequent acquisition by DISRAELI of the The Turks, however, were but fickle friends. KHEDIVE's interest in the canal and the At one time Englaud, at another France occupation of Egypt. As the English hold on Egypt lightened the influence at Con- came to the front, and at times both for a time worked together, only to fall out after stantinople decreased. Partly this was to awhile. So affairs went on till Egypt be accounted for by natural reasons, but the proved a bone of contention, au France did main cause was the hysterical fit which had her best to make a European combination capsized her traditional policy, and left her against England. By this time Germany a rudderless hulk on the fitful ocean of showed symptoms of her desire to take a popular caprice. Momentarily the nation was staggered and capital and enterprise band in the game. Her people in their new- born unity were enlarging their commercial retired to seek a refuge from the storm which
Should be desire to see a little of the interior interests in the Levant, and her Government, seemed impending. This is probably the ever ready to assist in the commercial ad-true explanation of that strange phase of of China he can approach his goal either from vancement of the Empire, seconded their industrial stagnation which has allowed the south via Chinking and the Grand efforts. An understanding was
Great Britain to remain stationary, while Canal to Chinkiang'pu, from which point he with England that Germany would not in- other nations, and capecially Germany and should leave his house-boat and continuo his the latter equipped with sails-or he can ride terfere with her in Egypt, if on her side the United States, have been forging ahead.ruey by pony, mule-cart, or wheelbarrow- England left her a free hand in Syria. The The passage of the Euphrates Railway, from or take cart from Tientsin. Having entered outcome of this was the KAISER's visit being a British project, into the hands of the province from the various points named, to Jerusalem, which, in spite of a good deal Germany, is, in fact, only another evidence I recommend the more adventurous globe- trotter to adopt the newly-opened Shanghai- of chaffing criticism, resulted in a friendly of the extraordinary paralysis which began
Kiaochow bay route, and from this point understanding between the KAISER and the with the defeat of DISRAELI in Feb., 1868,
h. rides down from Pekin or Tientsin. From SULTAN. English policy in Turkey had been and has had full swing for upwards of proceed inland. Let us suppose, however, that either city in good going weather the journey of an unnecessary irritating description. A quarter of a century. To us in China Government pledged at home to revolutionis- the story of the Euphrates line cannot but will occupy seven days' march. In the wet season of the year-July to September-this may be ing everything had thrown to the winds the suggest unpleasant thoughts. Froin a not traditional amenities of diplomacy, and had altogether dissimilar inaptitude we have indefinitely prolougod, as the roads at times had to look on at Peking, while our iu- become almost impassable, and the plains are raised up an unfriendly feeling in every court
into lakes of no mean depth. trausformed
one series in Europe. The Prime Minister himself, fluence, once paramoent, has been gradually ignorant or careless of the good opinion of frittered away. the world, had been using reckless language all round. The man who had hampered the traditional policy of the state and ninde the phrase "Bulgarian Atrocities a by word of ineptitude found in the "Unspeakable Turk a means of still further reducing the influence of his country. The interest of the nation in favour of the Armenian Chris- tinos was generous, and, carried out wisely, would have enhanced the respect due to the nation. A statesmau like CROMWELL, by the force of his character and the knowledge that what he threatened he was in a position to enforce, saved from a cruel persecution the remnant of the Waldenses. Not so the hysteric screechings of a GLADSTONE, who, all the world knew, would be the first to run away from the emeute he had himself created. Europe looked on and smiled, but the Turk, raukling under the abusive lan- guage, but yet sneering at the threats, the sincerity of which he had learnt to assess at its true value, preferred to seek other ad- visers. It is now upwards of sixty years'
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come
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The surface of the ground is We have see the same
to the Yellow tiver, and in the spring constant fretfulness, followed by a similar of plains, stretching from beyond Peking seasons they present to collapse at the end, we have threatened and and early summer
the gaze oue waving green expanse, broken threatened and, as if astonished at our own
commenced only where the eye is arrested by some foolhardiness, have at once
Is it any wonder | village or walled town. When within about to eat our own words. that our threats have become a laughing thirty miles or so of the gang-ho we catch stock, and that the unspeakable Em- our first sight of the Shantung hills, foremost our brave among which stands the celebrated Tai Shan, one of China's sacred mountains, attaining an press places the same value on words as does the unspeakable Turk at the altitude of over 5,000 feet, and whose summit, Bosphorus? This is, we fear, the main crowned by temples, in usually crowded with interest which the Euphrates Valley Rail- pilgrims. The ascent of this mountain is made way now has for British residents in China. by a winding road twelve miles in length, which is one long flight of stops, and for the first portion of the uphill journey very beautiful. Cyprus trees line either side. Poriodical pil- grimages are made to these temples-especially during the eighth moon-by thousands of wor- shippers, and, as in other similar sacred or historical places in the East, beggars, who ap pear to vie with one another in physical and moral wretchedness, are found in great numbers and appear to collect small fortunes in alma. To those who are acquainted with Burmah, a great similarity would be seen to exist between the temples of the Tai Shin and those of the bhody
·Dagon Pagoda at-Rangoon: These flights of '
H. E. Tan Chung-lin,ex-Viceroy of the two Knang provinces, and family arrived at Shang- hai from Candon on 13th iust, in the China Merchants' steamer Anping which was convoyed by the Chinese cruiser Kuangyi. H.E. did not land, although Ambassador's Hall, North Ho nan Road, had been prepared for his reception by the local mandarins, but changed the same day into the Kiangfor bound for the Yangtze. permiss. on having been granted from Peking for H.E. to visit his native province, Hunan, before going up for Imperial audience.