CO129-209 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [5] — Page 9

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of foresight exhibited by the founders of Hongkong in laying out the new vity o

on its magnificent site. I am bound to confers that the "Shameen"

(literally Mudflat") as the European

quarter of Canton is called, presents

in this respect a striking contrast.

At the close

of

the last

ivar

with

China in 1859, this Mud flat in the Pearl river was ceded to the allied English and French Governments.

A work of authority states: "Old__

residents in China will doubtless.

#

"well remember the time when this

"

"Shameen" or "Mud flat", was typical of

کم کم

#

all that was

filthy, unsavoury,

and

dissolute; when it was covered with

decrepid sheds of wood and bark,

tottering on grimy piles

#

#

#

over the

stagnant swamp; and with crowded.

hovels inhabited by lepers, mendicants

and thieves

of

the most miserable

class." "When this site was

occupied

by the Allies," the hovels which

#

#

covered it were removed, and an

by.

artificial island was created "building (upon piles driven into _

کو کو

the river bed), a massive embankment

......

"Shameen"

97

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