Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 457

CHINKIANG.

The port of Chinkiang (or Chen-kiang-fu), which was declared open to foreign trade by the Treaty of Tientsin, is situated on the Yangtze, about 150 miles from its mouth, and at the point where the Grand Canal enters the river.

The history of Chinking possesses but few features of interest. The position of the town, as a translation of its name implies ("River Guard"), was at one time of considerable importance from a military point of view, when all the rice-tribute from the south of China was transported to Peking by the interior route. The British forces captured the place in July, 1842, and as the cutting off of supplies always operates with great effect, the commanding situation thus secured was not long in producing the desired result upon the Central Government, for the Treaty of Nanking was signed a month afterwards. The Taiping rebels entered the town in April, 1853. and continued to occupy it till 1857, when they had to evacuate it from the same cause which had made the Government yield fifteen years before.

The city lies between one of the mouths of the Grand Canal and the right bank of the Yangteze. Most of the houses are built on level ground, but the surrounding hills lend a pleasant appearance to the locality, which is considerably enhanced by the bluff scenery of the island of Ta'io-shan, When the city was abandoned by the rebel forces, its destruction was very nearly complete, and it has not yet altogether recovered its former prosperous aspect. The foreign settlement occupies a tract of land extending from the mouth of the Canal along the bank of the river. The population of Chinkiang is estimated at 135,000.

Considerable commercial importance was attached to the port when it was first opened. The largest vessels can approach it, and hopes were high as to the position it would occupy in the development of inland trade with China. But, like the hopes entertained respecting several of the other Chinese ports, they have proved delusive, and the trade on the Yangtze seems to have centred at Hankow, farther up the river. The net importation of Opium into Chinkiang in 1888 was 11,514 picule, against 10,259 piculs in 1882. The net value of the foreign imports for 1883 was Tl.. 8,267,298. The total value of the trade of the port for 1883 amounted to Tis. 12,358,460, and in 1882 it was Tls. 14,788,072.

DIRECTORY.

Consulates.

BRITISH.

大繞國領事府

大英領事衙門

Pa-teh-hacok-ting-slik-foo. GERMAN.

Consul E. L. Oxenbam

Ta-ying-ling-sze-ya-mun,

Consul-E. L. Oxenham

Constable-Charles Nunn

UNITED STATES,

大美國領事官

Ta-mei-kwok-ling-shih-kwan.

Consul-E. J. Smithers

Vice-Consul-Leo A. Bergholz

Interpreter-D. A. Emery

FRENCH,

Consul-E. L. Oxenham

DANISH.

大丹領事衙門 Ta-tan-ling-sze-ya-mun.

Consul-E. L. Oxenham

NETHERLANDS.

Vice-Consul-A. E. Salter

JAPAN.

Consul—E. J. Smithers Vice-Consul-Leo Bergholz