Directory_and_Chronicle_1879 — Page 363

CHINKIANG.

The port of Chinkiang (or Chên-kiang-fu), which was declared open to foreign trade by the Treaty of Tientsin, is situated about 150 miles from the Yangtsze at the point where the Grand Canal enters the river.

The history of Chinkiang possesses but few features of interest. The position of the town, as a translation of its name implies ("River Guard"), was at one time of considerable importance from a military point of view, when all the rico-tribute from the south of China was transported to Peking by the interior route. The British forces captured the place in July, 1842, and as the cutting off of supplies always produces a powerful effect, the commanding situation thus secured was not long in pro- ducing the desired result upon the Central Government, for the Treaty of Nanking was signed a month afterwards. The Taiping rebels entered the town in April, 1853, and continued to occupy it till 1857, when they had to yield to the same cause which had made the Government yield ten years before.

The city lies between one of the mouths of the Grand Canal and the right bank of the Yangtsze. Most of the houses are built on level ground, but the bills surrounding lend a pleasant appearance to the locality, which is enhanced considerably by the bluff scenery of the island of Ts'io-shan. When the city was abandoned by the rebel forces, its destruction was very nearly complete, and it still retains to some extent its desolate aspect. The foreign settlement occupies a tract of land extending from the mouth of the Canal along the bank of the river.

Considerable commercial importance was attached to the port when it was first opened. The largest vessels can approach it, and hopes were high as to the position it would occupy in the development of inland trade with China. But, like the hopes entertained respecting several of the other Chinese ports, they have proved delusive, and the trade on the Yangtsze seems to have centred at Hankow, farther up the river. The net importation of Opium into Chinkiang in 1877 was 10,799 piculs, against 10,649 piculs in 1876. The import of this drug has steadily increased during the past ten years. The total annual revenue of the port for 1877 amounted to Tis. 122,381, and in 1877 it was Tis. 149,866. The population of Chinkiang is estimated at 140,000.

Consulates.

BRITISH.

大英領事衙門

Ta-ying-ling-sze-ya-mun.

Consul-H. J. Allen

Constable-Charles Nunn

DIRECTORY.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE.

大美國領事官

Ta-mei-kwoh-ling-shih-kwan.

Consul-J. C. S. Colby

Vice-Consul-D. A. Emery

DANISH.

大丹領事衙門

Ta-tan-ling-sze-ya-mun.

Acting Consul-H. J. Allen

NETHERLANDS.

Vice-Consul-E. Starkey

Imperial Maritime Customs.

鎮江關

Chin-kiang-kwan.

Acting Commissioner-James Twinem

Assistants-Chas. W. de St. Croix, T. A.

W. Hance, E. H. Grimani

Medical Officer-A. R. Platt▪

Tide Surveyor and Harbour Master-J. H;

C. Gunther

Examiners—A. B. Menzies, F. Wegener, J.

Mahon, P. R. Dubarry

Tide-waiters-T. Macphail, J. D. Annatoyn,

W. A. Washbrook, W. J. Mason, R. de Nully, P. Cunniffy

REVENUE CRruiser-Ch'iao-shan