Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 351

WENCHOW.

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the stranger are two pagodas situated on an island abreast of the city. They are both of great antiquity and are reputed to have been for some time the retreat of Ti Ping, the last Emperor of the Sung dynasty, when seeking to escape from the Mongols under Kublai Khan. The estimated population of the city is 83,000.

Wênchow was formerly a great seat of the tea trade, and previous to 1861 was the only port in the department at which tea was allowed to be exported. The city was then in a flourishing condition. But in order to prevent the teas from falling into the hands of the Tâi-p'ing rebels, who over-ran the whole district during that year, this regulation was exchanged for one which authorized the export of tea at any of the Customs stations along the coast; consequently the trade soon gravitated to Foochow on the south and to Ningpo on the north. It was thought that on the conversion of Wênchow into a treaty port it would speedily recover its old position as a tea exporting place, but this has not so far proved to be the case, nor bas the trade in any way been of a character to meet the expectations formed, although it is estimated that tea could be put on the Wênehow market for $2 per picul less than at Foochow owing to the bigher cost of transport to the latter port. At present there is no foreign settlement, and the foreign residents are a mere handful, consisting entirely of officials ant missionaries. The obstructive action of the officials in trying to impose additional burdens on imports helped to check the expansion of commerce, and there has so far been little encouragement for foreigners to establish themselves at the pert. There is a considerable native export trade in wood and bamboos, brought down the river in rafts from Ch'u-chow, The annual value of this trade is estimated to be not less than $2,000,000. The shops and yards engaged in it are situated in the west suburb, where immense quantities of bamboos and poles are kept on hand. Wenchow is also celebrated for its oranges. The net value of the foreign imports for the year 1881 was Tls. 322,742, as against Tls. 249,487 in 1880. The export of Congou Tea has been as follows:- 1877, 278 piculs; 1878, 680 piculs; 1879, 728 piculs; 1880, 1,284 piculs; and 1881, 619 pieuls. In 1881, 190 piculs of Opium were imported, as compared with 54 piculs in 1880. The value of the whole trade of the port for 1881 was Tls. 487,775, compared with Tls. 429,970 in 1880.

DIRECTORY.

Consulates.

31

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Ta Ying-kook-ling-shik-yamen.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Consul-W. G. Stronach

Constable-John Compton

GERMANY.

In charge W. G. Stronach

AUSTRO-HUNGARY.

In charge W. G. Stronach

Imperial Maritime Customs. 甌海電

Ou Hai kuan.

Assistant in charge-G. d'Arnoux

Assistant-D. J. Macgowan

Clerk-Sam. J. Hanisch

Medical Officer-D. J. Macgowan, M.D. Chinese Clerk-Wong Kwai Ching Assistant Examiner-J. W. Burke Tidewaiters-G. D. Sharnhorst, F. Haugh-

ton

Missionaries.

CHINA INLAND MISSION.

Rev. G. and Mrs. Stott

Rev. J. and Mrs. Wheeler

Rev. J. S. and Mrs. Adams, Kin-hwa

ENGLISH UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCH MISSION.

Rev. W. F. Soothill