Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 448

1841.

Notices of Chusan.

429

fever prevail, that of the whole force very few individuals escaped without suffering from attacks more or less severe.

Some parts of the city, being very low and damp, were extremely unhealthy of these the office of the cheheën, or magistrate, was a striking example; for of the whole number of British officers, civil and military, who lived there, not one escaped severe attacks of fever or dysentery. The place had to be evacuated, and another chosen for the magistracy. Several intelligent Chinese, when ques- tioned on the subject of the prevalence of fever, said that it was very common over the whole island, especially in the vallies, where the fields were kept constantly flooded; but that during the past year disease had prevailed to a very much greater extent than was gene- rally the case, and not only in the island itself, but also at Ningpo, Chinhae, Hangchow foo (the provincial capital), and other places. Indeed, the number of Chinese who were seen to be laboring under fever was very great, and proves that intermittent fever was very com. mon among them. All the low lands and plains in Chěkeäng and Keängsoo are said to be unhealthy in summer, and especially to for reigners.

It is a question of considerable interest, whether the unhealthiness of Chusan is inherent to the place itself, or rather dependant on ac- cidental circumstances. To form a careful judgment on this point, would require a much longer residence on the island than was af- forded last year; but there can be little doubt, that the mode of irri- gating the vallies is the chief source of disease, especially where it is carried to so great an extent, as it was in the two vallies of Yung- tung and Yentsang. It was said, by those best able to form an opi- nion on the subject, that the surface of the valley in which Tinghae is situated could be effectually drained, it being above high water mark. If Chusan, or any other place where the land is devoted to rice crops, should in future be occupied by foreigners, it would be à subject well worthy of attention, whether, if the land should be drain- ed and other grains cultivated, the salubrity of the place would not be increased.

Commerce. The island did not appear to have been a place of much trade. Large quantities of distilled spirits were produced and exported, and also paddy and salt-fish; these were the chief exports, and many junks were employed in these branches of trade. No silk was produced, and but little of a coarse kind of tea, which was chiefly grown in small patches for domestic use, the chief supply of the city coming from the main land. Salt was made from sea-water, at all

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