Directory_and_Chronicle_1877 — Page 811

CHINA AND ITS OPEN POETS.

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and qualified judges believe that Hoihow will before long vie with the Formosan ports in importance. The town itself contains about 12,000 souls, and is governed by a Tsan-fu or Lieutenant-Colonel. The mercantile population though respectable is by no means rich. It numbers about 158 business houses (51 Cantonese, 39 Chao- chouese, 2 Fuhkienese, 10 Leichnoese, and 56 Hainanese) dealing chiefly in silk and cotton piece goods, medicines, opium, tobacco, sugar, oil cake, &c. The inhabitants are friendly to foreigners, and no disturbances have as yet interfered with amicable intercourse.

No foreign settlement has as yet been formed, nor does it appear that any steps will be taken to that end for a considerable time. Full reports upon the capabilities of the port have been made by H.B.M. Consul at Canton, and the Secretary of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.

CANTON.

Canton is situated on the Chu-kiang, or Pearl River, in latitude 23 deg. 7 min. 10 sec. N., and longitude 113 deg. 14 min. 30 sec. E., and is the capital of the Province of Kwangtung. It is sometimes called the City of Rams and the City of Genii, both of which names are derived from ancient legends. It is one of the first cities in the Chinese Empire. It is the seat of government for the province, and is the residence of the Viceroy of "The Two Kwang" (Kwangtung and Kwangsi). The Governor of Kwangtung and the Tartar General are also resident here, besides a number of other government officials of more or less distinction. Mun-Tim, who performed the duties of Hoppo, or Superintendent of Customs, up to July, 1876, made himself particularly obnoxious to foreign merchants in these parts, by what has been aptly termed the "Blockade of Hongkong."

Canton, owing to its favoured situation, became at an early date the port to which the traffic of European countries was attracted. The Portuguese found their way thither in 1516, but it is recorded that their conduct in these days was not calculated to impress the Chinese favourably. The Arab navigators bad, however, been making regular voyages between Canton and the ports of Western Asia as early as the tenth century. The Dutch appeared on the scene about a hundred years later than the Portuguese, and these in their turn were supplanted by the English. The latter, towards the close of the seventeenth century, founded the very profitable trade which was conducted for nearly one hundred and fifty years by the Agents of the East India Company, who established a Factory there in 1684, which was after- wards celebrated throughout the world. From 1684 the export of tea to England increased rapidly. The Company's monopoly terminated in 1884. In 1839, Britain was led to a declaration of war with China in consequence of the oppression to which foreigners were subjected by the native authorities, and Canton was menaced with capture in 1841. A pecuniary ransom was however received in lieu of the occupation of the city, and hostilities were for the time being suspended. The lesson, unfortunately, was without effect, and the arrogance of the Chinese continued unabated. The British campaign in Central China ensued, and the result was the signature of the Treaty of Nanking (August 29th, 1842), by which what was called the Co-Hong monopoly at Canton was abolished and four additional ports thrown open to foreign trade. Never- theless, the provisions of the Treaty continued to be ignored in the City of Rams, and foreigners were still denied admittance within its walls. The result of protracted annoyances and insults was that in October, 1856, Sir Michael Seymour, with the fleet, again opened hostilities, and some two months later a mob in retaliation pillaged and burned all the foreign residences. In December, 1857, Sir Charles Straubenzee, in command of an expedition which had been specially despatched from England, attacked the city, and it was taken on the 29th of that month. The city was occupied by the English until October, 1861, a period of nearly four years. By this time the natives had learned that the subjects of other nations living amongst them could not be subjected to insult and injury with impunity, and from that day to this foreigners of every nationality have dwelt peaceably in the locality.