Directory_and_Chronicle_1879 — Page 378

TIENTSIN.

Tientsin is situated at the junction of the Grand Canal with the Peiho river in lat. 39 deg. 3 min. 55 sec. N. and long. 117 deg. 3 min. 55 sec. E. It is distant from Peking by river about 80 miles. It was formerly only a military station, but towardı the close of the 17th century it became a place of some importance. The walled portion is small compared with the suburbs, the circumference of the walls beirg only a little over three miles. The principal trade is carried on in the suburbs. The purely native city has the reputation of being exceptionally dirty, and the stench from open drains in and about the city is said to be the cause of a high rate of mortality there. There are a number of soap-boiling works in the neighbourhood, and the smell that arises from them is most disagreeable.

A number of foreigners live in the suburbs of the native city, but the concession is situated about a mile and a half farther down on the south bank of the river.

Tientsin will always be famous for the Treaty signed by Lord Elgin in a temple since called the Treaty Temple, or Elgin's Joss-house, ou the 26th June, 1856, and known as the Treaty of Tientsin. The port is also infamously notorious fcr the massacre of the French Sisters of Charity and other foreigners on the 21st Jan, 1870, by a Chinese mob, under circumstances of shocking brutality.

There is a fair foreign trade done at Tientsin compared with the other open ports. When the port was first opened, it is said that money was picked up very quickly by the few merchants then on the scene. In course of time, bowever, the Chinese began to make headway, and they have the trade now pretty well in their own hands. A recent Customs' report speaks of one great advantage that natives here have over foreign competitors. The former "purchase their stocks in Shanghai when there is a favourable market, rarely it ever insure their goods, and by selling in small quan- tities, and constituting themselves their own salesmen, at once procure ready buyers, and save the standing commission to which the compradores of foreigners are entitled." The export trade of Tientsin is very small compared with the import. Cotton is cultivated in the locality, and some years ago great expectations were entertained concerning it. Coal, it is believed, will eventually be exported in large quantities. The Tea exported goes principally to Russia and Siberia, viâ Kiachta. In 1877, 214,230 piculs were exported in this way. Opium to the extent of 4,026 piculs was imported in 1877, as compared with 3,606 piculs in 1876. The total revenue of the port in 1877 was Tls. 322,684; in 1876, Tls. 322,500. The population of Tientsin is estimated at 950,000.

DIRECTORY.

Consulates.

GREAT BRITAIN.

(For Tientsin and Peking.)

Consul R. J. Forrest

Acting Interpreter-H. B. Bristow

Constable-H. Yeomans

FRANCE.

Consul-C. Dillon

UNITED STATES.

Consul-O. N. Denny

Vice-consul and Interpreter-W. N. Pethick

大德國領事衙門

Tai-tak-kwok-ling-sz-ya-mun. GERMANY.

Acting Consul-Dr. O. F. von Möllendorff

Chancelier Interprete--J. de Bielke (absent) | Constable--H. Rubart

大俄國領事衙門

Ta-ngo-kwo ling-sx-ya-mun.

RUSSIA.

Consul-C. Waeber

Secretary-N. Lenzy

DENMARK.

Acting Consul-C. Waeber

BELGIUM.

Consul-W. Forbes