Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 340

TAKAO AND TAIWAN-FU.

It

Takao is a port in South Formosa, and is situated in lat 22 deg. 38 min. 3 sec. N and long. 130 deg. 16 min. 30 sec. E. It was thrown open to foreign trade in 1864. is only a small placo, occupied chiefly by Chinese fishermen, and, excepting the beautiful A new Bund has recently scenery surrounding it, possesses no features of interest. been formed in front of the foreign hongs. The appearance of the place and its vicinity from the sea is very pleasant. Ape's Hill is seen rising on the left and the Saracen's Head on the right. Between the two is the channel which leads up to the inner harbour, which is about seven miles long and three miles across in its widest part. The soil of the country around Takao is extremely fertile; banyans and bamboos grow luxuriantly, and sugar plantations are numerous. Sugar is the prin- cipal article of xport from Takao, and in 1881 it amounted to 718,585 piculs as against 997,625 piculs in 1880. The import of Opium in 1881 amounted to 3,739 piculs, as against 3,647 picals in 1880. The value of the trade of the port in 1831 was Tis. 4,059,311, and in 1880 Tls. 4,527,544. The population of Takao is estimated at 10,000.

The city of Taiwan-fu lies about twenty miles from Takao in lat. 23 deg. 6 min. N. and long. 129 deg. 5 min E. It is a place of considerable size and importance. It is situated about three miles from the coast, with which connection is kept up by means of canals. The walls of the city are some five miles in circumference and enclose many buildings and places of interest. Among these is an Examination Hall for the Chinese literati, capable of accommodating several thousand students. There are a great many troes and open spaces in the city, which give it a rather pleasant appearance. In the locality are the ruins of Zealandia, a fort which was built in 1630, and which was the chief stronghold of the Dutch in Formosa until they were driven out by the Chinese pirate chief Koxinga, soon after whose death the western half of the island fell un ler the rule of the Cainese Government. The Customs give no returns of trade here, as they are included with those of Takao. The port is an open shallow roadstead, and vessels have to auchor at some distance from the shore. The population of Taiwan-fu is estimated at 225,000.

Consulates.

DIRECTORY.

BRITISH, ALSO DANISH, GERMAN, FRENCH,

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN, AND SPANISH.

Consul-T. Watters

Assistant-P. F. Hausser

Constable Antonio Alborado

UNITED STATES.

Consular Agent-T. Watters

NETHERLANDS.

Consul-J. Graham

Imperial Maritime Customs.

臺灣關

Tai-wan-kwan.

Commissioner-A. Novion

Assistant-G. C. Stent (Anping)

do. -G. H. J. Kleinwächter

Medical Officer-W. Wykeham Myres Tide-surveyor-

Assistant Examiners-L. A. Byworth, G

Swaniston (Auping)

Tide-waiters-R. H. Nazer, J. Godment,

D. Browne (Anping)

Linguists--Lu Kwong Sing, Chun Mun

Insurances.

Boyd & Co., agents—

Lloyds'

China Traders' Insurance Co., Limited Chinese Insurance Co., Limited

Dircks & Co., agents-

Yangtsze Insurance Association

Elles & Co., agents-

Canton Insurance Office

Tait & Co., agents-

North China Insurance Company Java Sea and Fire Insurance Company Union Insurance Society of Canton