Enclosure 2
HAINAN AND ITS INHABITANTS.
The advices brought by the last mail throw some light on the telegram dated the 29th December stating that the Paris papers were urging the French Government to seize and occupy Hainan, Formosa, or Chusan as a guarantee for the payment by China of an indemnity for the expenses of the war in Tonquin. The agitation raised by the Paris Press on this question evidently arose out of a proposition made by the Paris press of the 29th November to the effect that the French should seize the Chinese island of Hainan, "and thus teach the Celestial Empire the folly of resisting French demands." The idea of demanding an indemnity was not conceived until after the fall of Sontai. The Paris contended that the occupation of Hainan by the French would soon induce the Peking Cabinet to withdraw its troops from Tonquin, and would not in any way interfere with "the considerable European interests" which would be compromised by an attack on the Chinese coast. This suggestion is not without force, and might have commended itself to the French Government had their attack on Sontai failed through the opposition of the Chinese. Probably any such step will, however, now be deferred until after the intended assault on Langson has been made. If that town offers a stubborn resistance, and thereby causes great loss to the French, and they find it is defended by Chinese regulars—as stated—it will not be surprising if they make a claim for indemnity for the expenses to which they have been put by the opposition of Chinese troops. But we do not think that the French Government will for one moment entertain the suggestion to occupy Chusan, for reasons given by us the other day arising out of the existence of the Treaty of 1846 concluded by Sir John Davis; nor is it likely that they will attempt to seize Formosa, which is larger and more difficult to hold than Hainan. The latter island is, moreover, in close proximity to Tonquin, and could therefore be more easily occupied by the French, who would have little difficulty in effecting a seizure of the ports and capital.
So little is known of the island of Hainan which rendered into English means "South of the Sea" that a few particulars, culled from the most recent accounts, may prove interesting at the present moment.
The island lies between lat. 18 deg. 10 min. and 20 degrees N. and long. 108 deg. 25 min. and 111 deg. E., and is separated from the Lien-chow peninsula in Kwangtung by the Hainan Straits. It has an estimated area of 12,000 square miles, and the population is roughly set down at about a million. The interior, which consists of lofty mountains, some of them rising above the snow line, is peopled by aboriginal tribes called the Les, who are practically independent. The Paris ventures upon the assertion that Hainan is one of the most fertile islands in the world, and this is in the main true. Sugar is cultivated to a considerable extent, and forms an article of export, as does also ground nut oil. The cocoa nut tree grows freely, and sufficient rice is readily raised for local consumption. Only a comparatively small portion of the island is, however, under cultivation, the remainder being covered with jungle, which it requires great care to keep from encroaching on the reclaimed land bordering upon it. "If the country were developed by Europeans the soil would be found suitable for most kinds of tropical produce,
Hardwood abounds in the island; indeed, no soft wood is apparently available that the woodwork of the houses is all of hardwood, much of it well dressed and polished, which gives them a rich appearance. Pigs are largely reared for export to Hong Kong, and cattle are abundant, beef forming the principal animal food of the people. Tallow is one of the chief sources of profit in cattle raising in Hainan, and the hides and horns are also brought to market, so that the flesh is the least important item from a commercial point of view. The bones are also used as a fertilizer. As to the extent of the mineral resources of the island there is not much reliable information. Gold is known to exist, and mining was carried on to some extent a few years ago, until the superstitious fears of the people compelled the stoppage of the work. Copper also exists and was formerly mined at one point, but the mine caved in, killing about a hundred men, and since then it has not been worked. The chief products of the interior, brought to market by the aborigines, are rattan, deer horns and sinews, dried mushrooms, fragrant wood, and hides, but the primitive manner in which the trade is carried on prevents its attaining any considerable development. In the neighbourhood of Kiung-chow, the chief city of the island, of which Hoihow is the port, there are many indications of a past prosperity which the present does not equal, but the Rev. B. C. Henry, to whose narrative of his travels in the island we are largely indebted for the facts here stated, met with several flourishing towns between the coast and the country of the aborigines, and the general impression he gives is that the people are fairly prosperous and well-to-do.
The inhabitants of Hainan are divided into several races. There are of course a large number of Chinese, but these are divided into three or four classes, the Hainanese, who are the descendants of colonists from the neighbouring mainland; Hakkas, who are again divided into two branches known as the Old and New Hakkas; and a number of Cantonese settlers, most of whom are found in the towns, carrying on the bulk of the trade. The Hainanese or native Chinese are a feeble and inferior race, but the Hakkas, who occupy a rich and attractive belt of country, are an energetic and vigorous people, who some few years ago gave a great deal of trouble to the Government by rebelling against it. Mr. Henry says of these people:- "The thrift and enterprise of the Hakka emigrant from the north is well illustrated in the history of the colony in the interior of Hainan. About one hundred and twenty years ago two Hakkas from the north-east of the province came to Hainan and pushed their way into the interior. In the neighbourhood of the great hill Sha-mo-ling they found unoccupied land, well adapted to farming and grazing. They took up their residence there and soon began to prosper. After a few years they sent for their families, and the report of their good fortune induced others to follow, until a goodly settlement was formed. From this small beginning they have spread in numbers and in the acquisition of territory, until they occupy, wholly or in part, a district some forty miles in length by fifteen in breadth. Their number is said by some of their leading men to be about 20,000." Another race, who are known as Loi, have a dialect of their own, and though they are surrounded by and mingle freely and intermarry with the Chinese, are evidently a distinct people.
Page 167
Enclosure 2
HAINAN AND ITS INHABITANTS.
The advices brought by the last mail throw some light on the telegram dated the 29th December stating that the Paris papers were urging the French Government to seize and occupy Hainan, Formosa, or Chusan as a guarantee for the payment by China of an indemnity for the expenses of the war in Tonquin. The agitation raised by the Paris Press on this question evidently arose out of a proposition made by the Paris of the 29th November to the effect that the French should seize the Chinese island of Hainan, "and thus teach the Celestial Empire the folly of resisting French demands." The idea of demanding an indemnity was not conceived until after the fall of Sontai. The Paris contended that the occupation of Hainan by the French would soon induce the Peking Cabinet to withdraw its troops from Tonquio, and would not in any way nterfere with "the considerable European interests" which would he compromised by an attack on the Chinese coast. This suggestion is not without force, and might have commended itself to the French Co- vernment had their attack on Sontai failed through the opposition of the Chinese. Probably any such step will, however, now be deferred until after the intended assault on Ecninh bas been made. If that Lown offers â stubborn sistance, and thereby causes great loss to the French, and they find it is defended by Chinese regulars-as stated-it will not be surprising if they make a claim for indem- nity for the expenses to which they have been put by the opposition of Chinese troops. But we do not think that the French Government will for one moment entertain the suggestion to occupy Chusan, for reasons given by us the other day arising out of the existence of the Treaty of 1846 concluded by Sir JouN DAVIS; nor is it likely that they will at- tempt to seize Formosa, which is larger and more difficult to hold thau Hainan. The latter island is, woreover, in close proximity' to Tonquin, and could therefore be more easily occupied by the French, who would have little difficulty in effecting a seizure of the ports and capital.
ro-
So little is known of the island of Hainan which rendered into English means "South of the Sea "that a few particulars, culled from the most recent accounts, may prove interesting at the present moment.
The island lies between lat. 18 deg. 10 min. and 20 degrees N. and long. 108 deg. 25 min. and 111 deg. E., and is separated from the Lien-chow peninsula in Kwangtung by the Hainan Straits. It has an estimated area of 12,000 square miles, and the population is roughly set down at about a million. The iuterior, which consists of lofty mountains, some of them rising above the snow line, is peopled by aboriginal tribes called the Les, | who are practically independent. The Paris ventures upon the assertion that Hainan is one of the most fertile islands in the world, and this is in the main true. Sugar is cul- tivated to a considerable extent, and forms an article of export, as does also ground nut oil. The cocoa nut tree grows freely, and sufficient rice is readily raised for local con- sumption. Only a comparatively small por- tion of the island is, however, under culti vation, the remainder being covered with jungle, which it requires great care to keep from encroaching on the reclaimed land bor- dering upon it. "If the country were deve- loped by Europeans the soil would be found suitable for most kinds of tropical produce,
R
Hardwood abounds in the
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3376
indeed, |
no soft wood is apparently available that the woodwork of the hours 013 84 hardwood, much of it well dressed and po lished, which gives them a rich appearance. Į Pigs are largely reared for export to Hong- kong, and cattle are abundant, beef forming the principal animal food of the people. Tal- low is one of the chief sources of profit in cat- tle raising in Hainan, and the bides and horus are also brought to market, so that the flesh is the least important item from a com-: mercial point of view. The bones are also! used as a fertilizer. As to the extent of the mineral resources of the island there is not much reliable information. Gold is known to exist, and mining was carried on to some extent a few years ago, until the supersti- tious fears of the people compelled the stop- page of the work. Cupper also exists and was formerly mined at one point, bat the mine caved in, killing about a hundred men, and since then it has not been worked. The chief products of the interior, brought to market by the aborigines, are rattan, deer. horns and sinews, dried mushrooms, fra- grant wood, and bides, but the primitive manner in which the trade is carried on pre- venta its attaining any considerable develop- ment. In the neighbourhood of King-chow, the chief city of the island, of which Hoi- how is the port, there are many indications of a past prosperity which the present does not equal, but the Rev. B. C. HENRY, to whose narrative of his travels in the island we are largely indebted for the facts here stated, met with soveral flourishing towns between the coast and the country of the aborigines, and the general impression he gives is that the people are fairly prosperous and well-to-do.
The inhabitants of Hainau are divided into several races. There are of course a large number of Chinese, but these are divid- ed into three or four classes, the Hainanese, who are the descendants of colonists from the neighbouring mainland; Hakkas, who are again divided into two branches known as the Old and New Hakkas; and a number of Cautonase settlers, most of whom are found in the towns, carrying on the balk of the trade. The Hainanese or native Chinese are a feeble and inferior race, but the Hakkas, who occupy a rich and attractive belt of country, are an energetic and vigorous people, ! who some few years ago gave a great deal of trouble to the Government by rebelling against it. Mr. HENRY says of these people:- "The thrift and enterprise of the Hakka emigrant from the north is well illustrated in the history of the colouy in the interior of Hainan. About one hundred and twenty years ago two Hakkas from the north-east of the province came to Hainan and pushed their way into the interior. In the neigh- bourhood of the great bill Sha-mo-ling they found unoccupied land, well adapted to farming and grazing,. They took up their residence there and soon began to prosper. After a few years they sent for their families, and the report of their good fortune induced others to follow, until a goodly settlement was formed. From this small beginning they have spread in numbers and in the ac- quisition of territory, notil they occupy, wholly or in part, a district some forty miles in length by fifteen in breadth. Their number is said by some of their leading men to be about 20,000." Another race, who are known as Loi, have a dialect of their own, and though they are sur- rounded by and mingle freely and inter- marry with the Chinese, are evidently a dis
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