CO882-(3-4) — Page 468

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

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mmimmim FREEFICO. 882

4PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

Influence of Hubsoil water on malaria.

Outline of foreshore of city.

Tidal currents.

+

- Laws of tides.

General

description of site of city.

Arrangement of streets

absence of wheeled vehicles.

Population of Vistoria.

8

5. It is possible that the existence of a large amount of subsoil water at no great depth below the surface, may have something to do with the development of malarious fevers, which, according to universal popular repute, invariably prevail whenever the surface is disturbed by excavation.

6. The general outline of the shore is a flattish S curve forming a bay, on the eastern side, a slight promontory to the westward. In front of the eastern part the water is shallow, and a considerable extent of foreshore is exposed even at nesp tides. Towards the west deep water approaches the shore, and the Praya, or wharf wall, is in some places founded at or below low-water mark spring tides.

7. For more than 150 yards from the shore the tidal current is at all times, and in all places, very sluggish. In general terms it may be stated that the flood stream runs to the westward, the ebb to the east, but the current does not change exactly at high and low water.

8. The laws of the local tides have not been sufficiently investigated as yet. From observations recently made, it would appear that they resemble those of the tides of Bombay and the Indian Ocean, rather than those of the British Isles; the difference between neaps and springs being greater, and there being a great difference in the heights of alternate tides; a large tide in the morning being followed by a much smaller evening tide, or vice versa, according to the season. Indeed the second tide sometimes disappears altogether, being merely represented by a diminution in the rate of rise or fall which may last for nearly 18 hours. The information collected concerning this matter, which has an important bearing on the selection of an outfall for sewers, will be found in the Appendix.

9. The city of Victoria extends along the shore for a distance of about 34 miles running back inland for about half a mile. Viewed from the opposite shore of the Kow- loon peninsula, on the extreme left or eastern extremity, a projecting promontory of reclaimed land would be seen, occupied by sugar works. To the westward of this the Wong-na-Chong valley enters the sea. At its mouth is one of the largest pieces of flat land in the island, which is occupied inland, by the racecourse, and harbourward by building lots, at present but partially built upon. Westward of this again, the foot of the hills re approaches the shore. For a distance of about three quarters of a mile, or up to 1 miles from the eastern extremity, the harbour front is occupied by warehouses, with a few second-class Chinese dwellings. At this point the naval and military establish- ments commence, occupying about half a mile of the water frontage, the barracks being on the slopes of the hills in rear.

Next to this is the City Hall, behind which are the public gardens. For about half a mile westward of the City Hall, the water front is occupied by the stores and offices of the principal European mercantile houses. Behind this the town climbs the side of the hill, terrace above terrace, to a height of 400 feet and more. Here are the majority of European dwellings and the Chinese houses of the better class.

A further length of half a mile is occupied, in front, by the principal Chinese ware- houses, in rear is the densely packed Chinese quarter. This portion of about one mile west of the City Hall may be said to be the heart of the town. In front of it are anchored seagoing and river steamers of all sizes, sailing vessels and junks, whilst inshore, along. side the wharf, is a dense mass of boats and barges. The Praya here presents a scene of the greatest activity. To the west of this, again, the movement rapidly diminishes. Towards the western extremity, Slaughter-bouse or Belchers Point, Chinese warehouses line the shore, behind are dwellings, chiefly Chinese, but the whole has the appearance of a district but partially developed.

Slaughter-house Point inay, for the present, be considered as the western extremity of the city. Beyond this is Belchers Bay, or Lap-sap-wan (“Rubbish Bay"); works of reclamation are actually in hand.

10. The streets running up the slopes of the hill, at right angles to the shore line, are far too steep for wheeled vehicles. In some cases indeed they are formed into steps; carriages drawn by horses are virtually unused. For passenger traffic a large number of " Jinrickshaws," small carriages drawn by men, have been recently introduced, and ply for hire in the Queen's Road and Praya. Chairs carried by coolies are still, however, the usual means of locomotion. Burdens of all sizes and weights are carried by men.

11. The accompanying table derived from the census returns of 1881, gives an abstract of the statistics of the city of Victoria. The village and rural population is not included. Asiatics are notably unwilling to give any return of their true numbers, and therefore it is impossible to say how far these figures are to be relied on. They are certainly under, not over, the true numbers.

Women

9

TABLE I-STATISTICS of the CITY of VICTORIA, from CENSUS of 3rd April 1881.

Resident Population.

Temporary Population-- Naval and Military Hatablishments. Polics, Crews of shipping, Prisoners.

Chinese

cana.

Buro- Goa, peats and Indian,

Ameri- and Mixed

Blood.

Chinese.

TOTAL.

Buro- Gloa peans and Indian,

Avneri- jand Mixed)

Blood. COLL.

Bost

Population.

TOTALL

Chiness. TOTAL

T

Men -

985

426

66,928

69,289

4,564

735

2,597

7,826

768

174

19,000

18,945

131

7

64

201

7,635 3,440 29,587

88,750

Boys -

699

185

8,774

9,658

158

98

262

Girls -

698

188

8,580

9,501

97

8

21

124

3,061 2,551

12,981 12,176

Totals

8,040

968 102,885

-

4,950

754 9,710

Grand Totals -

106,893

8,414

16,587

131,404

Number of houses tenanted Number of inhabitants per house, Number of Chinese families

6,402

Total Europeans and Americans

7,990

106,893 6,402

16.6

"

"

Indian, Gon, and Mixed Chinese

1,723

191,789

9,794

Total population

181,494

Chinese deaths in 1880 recorded in Victoria -

3,358

27-52 per mille. 122

8,358

Chinese death-rate on census of April 1881 – 201 mille.

Chinese, small

nature of

non-residence

of familien. Population

12. The Chinese form by far the majority of the population, and of them the men Majority of greatly preponderate, being more than three times more numerous than the women. population Hence this large section of the community is not normally constituted. A very large propertion of proportion consists of working men, temporarily residing in Hong Kong for purposes of women, shifting industry and trade.

This is clearly shown by the very small number of Chinese families; population, 9,724 families to 68,000 men and 19,000 women.

13. Like the Europeans, few of the Chinese are permanent settlers, but only tem- porary residents, coming to Hong Kong to avail themselves of the facilities offered chiefly non-

British rule, for earning money, with which they propose to return to their own country, to end their days amongst their own people. Even the richer Chinese, who possess much house property in the Colony, do not, as a rule, settle there with their whole family. Their first or principal wife remains at the home of their ancestors, in their native country.

resident.

permanently

in China.

14. The small number of really permanent Chinese settlers is due, to some extent, to Reasons why the want of suitable sites on which they could build houses and plant gardens such as Chinese do not they like.

It would appear, however, that even in their own country, the Chinese prefer settle. to have their permanent dwelling in some country village, the home of their ancestors, Tenure of land rather than in great cities. Even in Canton, a considerable number out of the vast population of that city are only temporary residents, their wives and families residing elsewhere, in their native villages. This strong attachment to the native place is probably due to the joint family tenure of land which obtains throughout China. Real property does not descend to one heir, but is administered by the senior member for the benefit of the whole family,

15. From 1872 to 1876 the population increased at the rate of about 24 per cent. per Rate of in- annum; from 1876 to 1881 the increase was at the rate of 3 per cent. Seeing that the areas of proportion of women is so small, this increase cannot be due to births, but must be population due

to immigration. caused almost wholly by immigration.

16. The Chinese population of Hong Kong comprises representatives of several Races of distinct races or tribes, respectively different in appearance, habits, and speech. The Chinese repre

sented in Hong written language is practically the same, but in speaking, the pronunciation and even Kong. construction varies so much, that one tribe cannot understand the other.

The following are the three principal tribes:-

(1.) The Pun-tees or Cantonese merchants, shop keepers, and artisans.

(2.) The Hok-lo, from Amoy and Foochow. These men are chair-coolies, boat-

men, &c.

(3.) The Hakkars, from the north-east of the province of Canton. They are stone- cutters, barbers, amiths, and labourers. They bring with them many women, who shun the sight of foreigners less, and appear in public more than those of other races. They inhabit principally the district near West Point. It is most important that all these peculiarities be remembered when comparing the vital statistics of Hong Kong with those of other places.

17. The city of Victoria, with upwards of 130,000 inhabitants out of the total Abos of any 160,000, is virtually Hong Kong. A few small patches of garden cultivation in the agricultural

conel dem bla

B 8797.

B

population.