PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TLC.O. 882
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6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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picturesque in many places along the canal, especially as it nears Chinan, and the view from the banks of far-stretching plains, extending as far as the eye could reach with green crops of grain and thickly-wooded villages, reminded me of a Western rather than an Oriental landscape.
The canal is tidal for 102 li. At its mouth the tide rises 5 to 8 feet, and at Huant'ai, 102 li distant from its mouth, from one to two. It is frozen during the winter throughout its whole length. It rises there to four feet in the rainy season, when it is flooded in its lower reaches. A small steam-launch, drawing three feet has proceeded as far as Sha Ho, 236 li from the mouth of the canal. The Chinese are at present preparing a scheme for deepening the canal by dredging it to a depth of 44 feet throughout its entire length, so as to make it navigable to Chinan for steam launches. Two dredgers are being obtained for this purpose.
The object of the Chinese Government in improving the canal is to secure a trade route which will be independent of the German railway running from Tsing tao, the chief town of Kiaochon, to Chinan. It is reported that the Germans were not aware of the existence of the canal when they commenced to build their railway, and that they are now anxious to obtain control of it by undertaking to find the funds necessary for carrying out the works of improvement, but the Chinese "fear the Greeks when bringing gifts,” and fully realise the importance of retaining the control of the canal in their own hands.
When at Chinan I met Mr. Tyler, who was formerly in the British Naval Reserve, but joined the Chinese Customs service some years ago, and fought for the Chinese at the naval engagement between the Chinese and Japanese at the Yalu. He is now Court Inspector and Harbor Master at Shanghai, and had been invited to Chinan by the Governor to examine and report on the Yellow River and the Hsiao Ch'ing Ho. He informed me that the Yellow River is in a very unsatisfactory condition, and that the problem of dealing with it must be settled before any scheme for improving the Hsiao Ch'ing Ho can be successful, as any breach in the Yellow River verssarily involves the flooding of the canal. In his opinion the best plan would be to use the Yellow River for drainage purposes, as it is very doubtful whether it can ever he really useful as an inland waterway owing to its frequent floods and the rapidity of its current. At Lo Kon, the port of Chiñan on the Yellow River, the current flows at a speed of four knots, and its average depth in the reaches is 10 feet and at the bends 40 feet. On the last occasion on which the river overflowed it covered an area of 200 square miles between its bed and the Hsiao Ching Flo with six feet of sand. As is well known, the Chinese Government has at different times devoted large sums of money to repairing breaches in the Yellow River and improving its embankments, but much of the money has found its way into the pockets of dishonest officials, and no well-devised general scheme of improvement has even been adopted, though several engineering experts have furnished the Chinese Government with reports.
The Governor of Shantung is most anxious that the canal should be improved without delay, and he informed me that he intended to have the work of dredging comme need at once,
There can be no doubt that the improvement of this waterway will lead to an increase in “Inland Water” trade. If, however, a railway were constructed to Chefio from Chinan vià Ching chon Fu. it would tap the richest portion of the province, and would undoubtedly prevent the German railway from diverting the trade of the province to Kiaochou,
I learned at Chinan that the Consul for Japan at Chefoo had approached the Governor with a view to obtaining for Japan a concession for such a railway or tramway, but that the Governor, who is not fond of the Japanese, was not inclined to entertain the proposal. If a railway were constructed to Chefoo and extended to Wei-hai-wei, the commercial development of this port would be much benefited and greatly expedited.
Throughout our journey up the canal we were treated most kindly by everyone. Large crowds assembled to have a look at our party when we anchored, but beyond evincing a natural curiosity at the unusual spectacle of Europeans travelling under the auspices of the Governor of the Province, they behaved with great decorum, and never uttered a rude word--a striking contrast to the crowds that flock to stare at Europeans in other parts of China, and bail them with uncomplimentary epithets supported by brickhits.
As we neared Wang Tien Ch'iao on the afternoon of Monday, the 27th of April, we made preparations for our official landing. It was very amusing to see the four
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soldiers of the Chinese Regiment, who accompanied us and who had hitherto travelled in mufti, polishing their uniform buttons and carefully arranging their toilet amidst the admiring gaze of the boat people. They were evidently determined to make an impression, and when they finally stepped on deck faultlessly attired in their dark grey uniform with red cummerbund and dark blue puggery, they certainly presented a very smart appearance. Two of them wore the medal for the recent campaign in North China, which they had won fighting with the Chinese Regiment against their own countrymen.
As we approached Wang Tien Ch'iao we had to thread our way through hundreds of boats, the presence of which was a sign that there must be a considerable trade on the canal.
We reached the jetty about 3.30 p.m., and on landing, in uniform, were met by deputies sent by the Governor to receive us, by a guard of honour consisting of his own bodyguard and a troop of cavalry. After a short halt in a building specially prepared and decorated in our honour, we set out in chairs for Chinan.
The procession was headed by the deputies and several military officials, who were mounted, followed by a troop of cavalry of twenty men of the Governor's body- guard. The four soldiers of the Chinese Regiment marched immediately in front of my chair, which was followed by the chairs of Captain Barnes and my Chinese Secretary.
On our way to the city I was saluted with thirteen guns. Inside the city the streets were lined with about 1,500 troops, all of which saluted as we passed. We were met at the building for receiving visitors by several officials, including the General of the troops and the Taotai, who informed us that he had been sent to welcome us by the Governor, who hoped that we were not fatigued by our long journey. After a short conversation, we were conducted to the quarters set apart for our residence, where we found the deputies, who had accompanied us from Yang Chiao Kou, waiting to receive us. A most comfortable suite of rooms, newly furnished in European style, was placed at my disposal, and Captain Barnes and the remainder of our party also were accommodated in the same building as that occupied by myself.
In the evening Taotai Yang, who is one of the leading officers of the Board for dealing with Foreign Affairs, called to see us, and I had an interesting conversation with him extending over two hours.
Mr. Yang is a Bannerman, who was born and educated in Canton, where he learned English in the T'ung Wên Kuan under Mr. Sampson. He afterwards went to Germany, where he resided for some years. He speaks both English and German fluently, and is said to have great influence with the Governor.
Our visit to the city of Chinan extended from Monday, the 27th of April, until Tuesday, the 5th of May, during which time the Governor and all his leading officials spared neither pains nor time to make our stay a pleasant one. They entertained us most hospitably, and arranged for us to visit all the scenes of interest in the city or its neighbourhood.
On the next day after our arrival, Tuesday, the 28th of April, I paid my official visit to the Governor, who had invited me to a banquet: He received me most cordially and introduced me to all his leading officials, whom he had invited to be present to meet me. Among the guests were also two Catholic Bishops, Bishop Anser, of the German Catholic Mission, and Bishop Giesen, of the Franciscan Order, who were dressed in mandarin robes with red-buttoned hats; Mr. Olliver, Commissioner in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, and Mr. Tyler, of the same service; Mr. Godsell, an American, who is an assistant in the University at Chinan; and Mr. Lange, of the German Consular Service, who is stationed at Chinan. The Governor personally conducted me over his Yamen, which covers a large area of ground and consists of many buildings. It was once the palace of a prince. He showed me his own private office, which is in telephone communication with the other chief Yamens in the city. The telegraph cable is also brought into the Yamen, so that it is possible to send telegrams directly to any part. Within the walls of the Governor's residence is an interesting natural spring, and a small lake in the building, on the banks of which we were entertained at a sumptuous banquet, at which were present all the leading officials and the foreigners whom I have already mentioned. The Governor himself proposed the health of the King and the Emperor and that of the Commissioner of Wei-hai-wei, to which I responded and proposed the health of the Governor.
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