Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 375

AMOY.

Amoy was one of the five ports open to foreign trade before the ratification of the Treaty of Tientsin. It is situated upon the island of Haimun, at the mouth of the Dragon River, in lat. 24 deg. 40 in. N. and long. 118 deg. E. It was the scene of trade with Western nations at a very early date. The Portuguese went there in 1544, but in consequence of their cruelty towards the natives, the Chinese authorities forcibly expelled them and burned thirteen of their vessels. The English had commercial dealings there up to 1730, when the Chinese Government issued an elict prohibiting trade with foreigners at all ports except Canton, They made an exception as regarða Spanish ships, which were allowed to trade at Amoy. The vessels of other nationa lilies, however, continued to visit the place, and did so till the city was captured in 1841. The Treaty of Nanking was sigued soon afterwards, and foreigners liave since been allowed to live there in peace and security.

In describing Amoy, Dr. Willians says:- The island (upon which Amoy is built) is about frly miles in circumference, and contains scores of large villages besides the city. The scenery within the bay is picturesque, caused partly by the numerous islands which define it, surmounted by pagodas or temples, and partly by the bigh barren bills behind the city. There is an outer and an inner city, as one approaches it seaward, divided by a high ridge of rocky bills having a fortified wall ruining along the top. A paved road connects the two. The entire circuit of the city and suburbs is al-out eight miles, containing a population of 300,000, while that of the island is estimated at 100,000 more. The harbour is one of the beat on the coast; there is good bolding ground in the outer harbour, and vessels can anchor in the inner, within a short distance of the beach, and be perf ctly secure; the tide rises and falls from fourteen to sixtern feet. The western side of the harbour, here from six hundred and seventy-five to eight hundred and forty yards wide, is formed by the island of Kulangeu. It is a picturesque little spol and maintains a rural population of 3,500 people. Eastward of Amoy is the island of Quemoy or Kinmun (Golden Har- bour), presenting a striking contrast in the low foreground on ita south shore to the bigh land on Amoy."

There is little to be said about the city. It ranks as a third class city in China, but it bears no comparison to Canton in wealth or general appearance. It is con- sidered, even for China, to be very dirty, and its inhabitants are unusually squalid in their habits. There are several places of interest to foreigners in the vicinity, and excursions can be made to Chang-chow-fu, the chief city of the department of that name, and situated about 35 miles from Amoy. The island of Kulangsu is about a third of a mile from Amoy, and the residences of nearly all the foreigners are to be found there, although most of the foreign business is transacted on the Amoy side. There are three granite docks at Amoy, the largest being 310 feet by 60 feet; they are owned and managed by foreigners. A small shipping sheet called the Amoy Gazette is published daily. The population of Amoy is estimated at 95,600. The foreign

residents number about 280.

There has always been a comparatively good trade done at Amoy. In 1864 the rebels captured Chang-chow-fu, and the commerce of the port was greatly interfered with. There is frequent and pretty regular steamer communication with Hongkong, Swatow, and Foochów. Direct communication with Manila and the Straits Settle ments is also maintained. The total export of Tea for 1883 was 149,985 picule, and of Sugar for the same period 201,716 piculs. The net importation of Opium for 1883 was 8,556 picule as compared with 8,762 piculs in 1882. The total value of the foreign trade of the port for 1883 was Tls. 10,332,292, against Tls. 11,251,085 in 1882.

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