Directory_and_Chronicle_1880 — Page 377

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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 towards 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 wals being 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 disagrecable.

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, 1858, and known as the Treaty of Tentsin. Tae port is also infamously notorious for the massacre of the French Sisters of Charity and other foreigners on the 21st June, 1870, by a Chinese mob, under circumstances of shocking brutality. The population of Tientsin is estimated at 950,000.

There is a fair foreign trade done at Tientsin compared with the other open ports. When the port was first opened, it is said ti at money was picked up very quickly by the few merchants then on the scene. In course of time, however, the Chinese began to make headway, and they have the trade now pretty well in their own bands. 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 if 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 if ever the coal mines of Chihli are worked by foreign machinery, but although an el borate scheme to do so with native capital was formed more than a year ago, it seems, like many other Chinese plans, to have fallen through. The Tea exported goes principally to Russia and Siberia, via Kiachta. In 1878, 275,400 piculs were exported by this route, compared with 214,230 piculs in 1877. Opium to the extent of 4,007 piculs was imported in 1878, as compared with 4,026 piculs in 1877. The total revenue of the port in 1878 was Tls. 317,700; in 1877, Tls. 322,684.

Consulates. GREAT BRITAIN.

DIRECTORY.

(For Tientsin and Peking.)

Acting Consul-H. B. Bristow

Assistant-

Constable-H. Yeomans

Consul-C. Dillon

FRANCE.

Chancelier Interprete―J. de Bielke (absent)

大俄國領事衙門

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

RUSSIA.

Consul-C. Waeber

UNITED STATES.

Consul-O. N. Denny

Vice-consul and Interpreter-W.N. Pethick

大德國領事衙門

Ta-te-kuo-ling-shih ya-men.

GERMANY,

Acting Consul--Dr. P. G. von Möllendorff

Constable-H. Rubart

DENMARK.

Acting Consul-C. Waeber

BELGIUM.

Consul-W. Forbes

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