866
HOIHOW (IN HAINAN).
Imperial Maritime Customs controlling the duties, &c., paid on foreign trade. The position of the port, though geographically favourable, is topographically unsuitable for the development of any extensive commercial transactions, vessels being compelled to anchor some two miles from the entrance of the creek, or branch of the main river upon which Hoihow is situated. The tides are extremely irregular, and the anchorage is liable to the visitation of very severe typhoons, being moreover entirely unprotected from the north. The width of the Hainan Straits, between Hoihow and the mainland-the Lien-chau peninsula-is about twelve miles. As regards health, Hoihow compares favourably with the other parts of Hainan, though fever and aguɔ are said to prevail to some extent. The port is badly supplied with water.
The approaches to the shore are extremely shallow, so that loading and unloading can only be carried on at certain states of the tide. Despite this disadvantage, however, the advent of foreign steamers has given a considerable impulse to trade, and Hoihow now almost vies with the Formosan ports in importance. The town itself contains about 12,000 souls, and is governed by a Tsan-fu, or Lieutenant- Colonel. The mercantile population, though respectable, is by no means rich. The inhabitants are not unfriendly to foreigners, and no actual disturbances have as yet interfered with amicable intercourse, but the natives at a distance from the town have shown themselves hostile to shipwrecked mariners who have been cast on the coast. The import of opium in 1885 amounted to 1,445 piculs as against 1,166 piculs in 1884, and the value of the whole trade was TIs. 2,725,026 as compared with Tls. 2,446,181 in 1884. A large export trade in pigs, eggs, and provisions has grown up with Hongkong.
No foreign settlement has as yet being formed, nor does it appear that any stops will be taken to that end for a considerable time. The foreign residents at present number less than a dozen.
DIRECTORY.
BRITISH CONSULATE, KIUNGCHOW.
Acting Consul-Oct. Johnson
Constable D. S. Heaysman
Chinese Write-Wu Tzu-ch'êng
GERMAN CONSULATE.
Consular Agent-Oct. Johnson
IMPERIAL MARITIME CUSTOMS. Assistant in Charge-C. C. Clarke
Assistant and Medical Officer-J. H.
Lowry
Tidesurveyor and Harbour Master-H.
C. Müller
Assistant Examiner-P. R. Dubarry Tidewaiters-F. J. Allshorn, G. A. Dissme-
yer, E. Momsen
Watchers-T. H. England, H. Hartmann
MERCHANTS, &c.
泰同
Tung-t'ai.
Avetoom & Co., merchants and com-
mission agents
John Leon Avetoom
Bruce, Rob. E., merchant, commission
agent, and auctioneer
昌瑞 Sui-chang.
Herton & Co., merchants
Edward Herton (Pakhoi)
Oscar Noodt, signs the firm
W. Mathisen (Pakhoi) C. A. Soo
do.