CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900 — Page 787

[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

32298

[September 179

Her OCT 00. SECTION 4.

775

No. 1.

Acting Consul Little to the Marquess of Salisbury.--(Received September 17.)

(No. 8.) My Lord,

Samshui, August 12, 1900. COMMUNICATION with Her Majesty's Legation being still interrupted, I venture to forward direct to your Lordship copy of an account of my journey in Her Majesty's ship" Sandpiper "up the West River.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

H. A. LITTLE.

Inclosure in No. 1.

Notes by Acting Consul Little of a Journey up the West River in Her Majesty's Ship "Sandpiper."

NOTE.-The figures (25) after the names of places indicate the distance from Wuchow-]

AFTER a delay of a week waiting for the river to rise we left Wuchow for Nanning on the 11th June with the water still falling. The Provincial authorities had previously endeavoured to stop our journey on the ground of danger from pirates, by refusing to grant a pass for our extra supply of coal which was to be sent on ahead, and it was only after direct application by Her Majesty's Consul at Wuchow to the Viceroy at Canton that the necessary orders were issued to allow the coal to pass the li-kin barriers.

For the first 15 miles or so the river is inclosed by picturesque wooded hills of a few hundred feet high, with a narrow stretch of alluvial land at the foot, which appears to be well cultivated.

There are numerous small towns and villages scattered at intervals along the river banks which give evidence of considerable prosperity. The houses are mostly built of brick with tiled roofs, and fine flights of stone steps give access to the river. In many places dense groves of bamboo trecs lend an additional charm to the

scenery.

The navigation appears to be dangerous, there being about an hour's run from Wuchow, a

particularly difficult stretch of about a mile studded with rocks upon which These serve as pyramidal piles of stones, 20 or 30 feet high, have been built. excellent marks of the channels at low water, but when the river is in flood they are all covered and must then add to the danger. It is said that these piles of stones were put up by the fishermen to hang their nets on. When we went up scores of these rocks We were visible in the course of a mile or two, but on coming down I saw only two. anchored for the night opposite the small town of Teng Hsien (25), which has a popula- tion of between 10,000 and 20,000 and is situated at the junction of the river of the same name with the West River.

The river throughout is wider than below Wuchow, being in places quite a mile There is good pasture on the slopes of the banks, and herds of water buffalo of twenty to fifty are frequently seen. The shipping appears to be insignificant.

across.

The next places passed were Meng Chiang (58), a considerable village, and Pai Ma (51), which is the outlet for the cassia produced in the district. Next comes Ping Nan (63), a district city, of some 10,000 inhabitants. The people are said to be anti- foreign, missionaries and others having been stoned out of the place on several occasions. The Magistrate was absent in connection with some disturbance at Wu Hsien, but some soldiers were sent from the Yamen to accompany us on our walk. The town is substantially built and the streets are well paved and clean. Foreign piecc- goods, English cotton thread, Japanese tobacco and matches, were seen in the shops. A considerable quantity of silk is produced in the neighbourhood. The people were very

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