Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 223

79

supplied with oranges, plantains, pomelos, pears, peaches, and other fruits in their season, but these are all brought from other parts of the province. Even the regions around Fuhchau fú supply in part the fruit markets of Amoy.

The island produces very little animal food. But few domestic animals are raised upon it. The poultry, pork and beef found in the markets, are brought from the main land. Cultivating the ground and fishing seem to be the principal employments of the village population -some labor as boatinen and sailors.

The inhabitants of the city are principally engaged in commerce and in manufactures for home consumption. So far as the writer's information extends but few articles for export are manufactured in this place. Perhaps the chief exceptions are shoes and umbrellas. Considerable quantities of these are manufactured here and exported; most other exports come from the neighboring cities and from the in- terior and are here shipped for other ports. There are, probably, three hundred junks of all sizes trading at this port-many of thein are the property of Amoy merchants. They trade with the northern and southern ports of China, with the island of Formosa, in the Straits of Singapore and ports in that region. Besides, a daily communica- tion by means of small vessels is kept up with the principal cities which can be reached from Amoy by water, boats go and come loaded with passengers and merchandize.

and merchandize. In fact most of the important places on the main-land and far in the interior are dependant upon this place for many articles of consumption which they do not man- ufacture themselves but which they find imported into this city. This creates a large native trade with Amoy and gives it an importance which it could not otherwise command.

Of the population of the island not much can at present be said. The whole island contains probably 350,000 or 400,000 inhabitants. The aggregate of 66 villages with which more or less communication has been has and many of which have been visited, is according to statements received from the natives and confirmed in many cases by personal observation, 40,669. There are 136 villages on the is- land and some of the largest are not included in the preceding estinate. Perhaps 100,000 is as close an approximation to the true number of the village population as can be made under present circumstances. The city and suburbs, at the lowest computation, contain 250,000; some say 300,000, inhabitants. This makes the whole population of the island, as before stated, 350,000, or 400,000-