Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 658

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Province of Fuhkien.

Fukkien, anciently called Min, borders towards the north upon Chehkiáng, south upon Kwangtung, east upon the Ocean and the Formosa Channel; and towards the northwest on Kiángsí. It extends from lat. 25° 35′ to 23° 47′ N. from long. 0° 22′ W. to long. 4° E. of Peking (Formosa not included). The province is very mountainous. Its seacoast abounds with harbors, many of them spacious and safe ; the whole coast is mòre indented than any other maritime province. Not far from the main are several islands, the principal ones are Namoa, Yungshắn, Hiámun (Amoy), Kinmun(Quemoy), and Háitán. The Min is the chief river; its branches extend over half the pro- vince, and unite in one channel below the city of Fuhchau. Nearly every branch of the Min has its fountain head within the boundaries of the province. Its area is about the same as that of the state of North Carolina.

The capital of this province is Fuhchau fú, or Hokchiú hú, as it is called by the inhabitants; it is situated in lat, 26° 5' N. and long. 119* 20' E. on the north side of the Min, thirty-four miles from its mouth, and nine from Pagoda Island where the ships anchor. The city lies in a plain, through which the river runs, about three miles from the bauks. Suburbs extend from the walls to the river, and stretch along on its sides. They are connected with each other and a small islet in the river, by a stone bridge four hundred and twenty paces long, reposing on forty solid stone piers on the northern side, and on nine similar ones on the south. The bridge is lined with sheps. The city 'has some inland coinmerce, and is distinguished for the number of its literati. The population of the city and suburbs has been reckoned at 600,000. The island in the river is densely settled by a trading population of 20,000.

Amoy, or Hiámun, is the most important and best known port in the province, and 140 years ago was the seat of a large foreign com- merce. It is a mart in the district of Tung-ngán, belonging to the department of Tsivenchau, situated in lat. 24° 40′ N. and long. 118° 20′ E., upon the south-western corner of the island of Amoy at the mouth of the Lung kiáng, or Dragon river, lea ling up to Cháng- chau fú. The island itself is about forty miles iu circumference, and contains about 120 villages, besides the city,

The entire circuit of the city and suburbs is about eight miles, containing a population of 180,000, while that of the island is estimat.

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