Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 395

WENCHOW.

Wên-chow-fu, one of the five ports opened to foreign trade by the C foo Convention, is the chief town in the department of the same name occupying the Bouth-ast corner of Che-kiang province. The city is situated on the south bank of the river Ou-kiang, about twenty miles from its mouth, in lat. 27 deg. 18 min. 4 sec. N., long. 120 deg. 38 min. 28 sec. E. The site is a well cultivated plain, bounded on ail sides, but at a distance of some five miles, by lofty hills. The walls are said. have heen first erected during the fourth century, and enlarged and re-built by the Emperor Hung-Wu in 1385. They are formed of stone, diagonally laid at the foundation and partly also of brick, and measure about four miles in circumference. The strents are wiler, straighter, and cleaner than those of most Chinese cities T are well paved with brick and kept in careful and constant repair by the hou whi Tacy slope down on either side to water ways, which in their turn communicate th canals permeating the whole city. The streets therefore are not only easily rept clean, but this is specially accomplished by bands of scavengers, who go round very morning at daylight, sweeping and removing dirt or refuse. Wênehow, in this particular, is unique among Chinese cities, which are chiefly remarkable for their Cressive filthiness. There are numerous large nuunerics and temples in Wenchow. The Custom-house, outside the chief gate, known as the Shwang in or Double Gate," the Taotai's Yamen, the Prefe, t's and other public offices in a cluster, aul the Foundling Hospital, all near the centre, are the other chief public buildings. The latter institution, built in 1748, contains one hundred apartments. It is supported by the Laterest of invested subscriptions and the rental of alluvial lands presented to it by the Government. The uumber of foundlings on the establishment's books at one time varies from two to three hundred. When of suitable age the boys are either articled to tradesmen, or adopted; the girls are betrothed as wives, or employed as house servants. There is also a Bengar's Asylum outside the south-west gate. It was built during the 14th century, and is supported by the State. The monthly allowance for each recipient is one tael and a half, but it is reported that few avail themselves of the charity. Among the objects of greatest interest and curiosity to the stranger are two pagodas situated on Conquest" Island abreast of the city. They are both of great antiquity and, with the houses close by, were some time the retreat of Ti Ping, the last. Einperor of the Sung dynasty, when seeking to escape from the Mongols under Kublai Khan, The British Consul and the Customs tide- waiters occupy apartments on the island used by His Majesty, who has left behind him autographs preserved to this day in the adjoining temple. The estimated population of the city is from 83,000 tổ 100,000,

Wenchow was formerly a great seat of the tea trade, and previous to 1861 was, it is said by some, the only port in the department from which tea was allowed to be exported. The city was then in a flourishing condition. But in or.r to prevent the teas from falling into the hands of the T'ai-p'ing rella, wh overran 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 gra. vitated to Foochor in the south and to Ningpo in the north. It was thought that on the conversion of Wenchow 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 has 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 Wenchow market for 82 per picul less than at Foochow, owing to the higher cost of transport to the latter port. At present there is no foreign settlement, and the foreign residents are a mere handful, consisting almost entirely of officials and 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 given to foreigners to establish themselves at the port. A large quantity of native opium is produced in the vicinity of Wenchow. There is a considerable native export trade in wood and bamboos, brought down the river in rats from Ch'u-chow. The annual value of this trade is estimated to be not less than $2,000,000. The