Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 343

FOOCHOW.

Foochow (or Fuh-chau-fu) is the capital of the Fokien province. It is situated in lat. 26 deg. 02 min. 24 sec. N., and long. 119. deg. 20 min. E. The city is built on a plain on the northern side of the river Min, and is distant about thirty-four miles from the sea, and nine miles from Fagola Island, where foreign vessels anchor.

The attention of foreigners was early attracted to Foochow as a likly place where commercial intercourse could be profitably carried on in the shipment of Bohea Tea, which is grown largely in the locality. Before the port was opened, this article used to be carried overland to Canton for shipment, a journey which was both long and difficult. The East India Company, as early as 1830, made representatious in favour of the opening of the port, but nothing definite was done till the conclusion of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The early years of intercourse with the natives was anything but what was anticipated. The navigation of the river was difficult, there was no market for imports, and several attacks by the populace rendered the port an undesirable place of residence for some time. It was not until some ten years after the port had been opened that there was much done in the export of Tea from the interior, but since then the quantity shipped has increased so largely that Foochow is now one of the principal tea ports in China.

The city is built around three hils, and the circuit of the walled portion is between six and seven miles in length. The walls are about thirty feet high and twelve feet wide at the top The streets are narrow and filthy, but the number of trees about the official quarter of the city, and the wooded hills enclosed by the walls, give a picturesque appearance to the general view. Near the east gate of the city are several hot springs, which, like those in Japan, are used by the natives for the cure of skin diseases and are believed to be very efficacious. The Foochow people excel in the manufacture of miniature monuments, pagodas, dishes, &c., from what is called "soap stone," and in the construction of artificial flowers, curious figures of birds, &c. A few miles above the city the river divides into branches, which after pursuing separate courses for fifteen miles, unite a little above Pagoda Anchorage. The foreign settlement stands on the northern side of the island thus formed and which is called Nantai. Communication with the city is kept up by means of a bridge.

זדי

The climate of Foocho is wist and ene vating; it is ra'ber warmer in summer and cooler in winter than that of Hongkong. Frost and ice are occasionally-but very seldom-met with bere; and it is recorded that in the month of February, 1864, some two inches of snow fell upon the surrounding hills. Such an occurrence had not been remembered for forty years before, and it certainly has not happened since.

The scenery surrounding Foochow is very beautiful. In sailing up the river from the sea vessels have to leave the wide stream and enter what is called the Kimpai Pass, which is barely half mile across, and enclosed as it is by bold, rocky walls, it presents a very striking appearance. The Pass of Min-ngan is narrower, and with its towering cliffs, surmounted with fortifications and cultivated terraces, is extremely picturesque, and has been compared to some of the scenes on the Rhine.

Foreign vessels, with the exception of those of very ight draught, are compelled to anchor at Pagoda I-land, owing to the sballowness of the river, which has been increasing of late years, and the difficulties of navigation.

The trade of Foochow is mainly in Tea, the quantity exported in 1881 amounting to 730,920 piculs against 738,247 piculs in 1880. Of Opium, 4,784 piculs were imported in 1881 as against 4,201 piculs in 1880. The value of the trade of the port for 1881 was Tls. 14,961,489; for 1880, it was Tis. 15,758,656. A small weekly paper called the Foochow Herald is published here. The population of Foochow is estimated at 630,000.