Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 474

CHEFOO-TAKU.

*** Kaou-ti-pal.

AMERICAN SOUTHERN BAPTIST MISSION.

Rev. T. P. Crawford, D.D.

Mre. T. P. Crawford

Rev. N. W. and Mrs. Holcomb

Rev. C. W. Pruitt

Ree. J. M. and Mrs. Joiner

Rev. E. C. and Mrs. Da vault

+

Mrs. J. L. Holmes (absent)

Miss Lottie Moon

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND MISSION.

Rev. Alex. Williamson, B.A,, LL.D.

Rev. Alex. Westwater

A. Macdonald Westwater, L.R.C.P. & S. E.

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION. Rev. Césaire Scủang, M.D. Rev. John Liu

AT WEI HIEN.

AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION. Rev. Rob. M. Matcer

Rv. J. H. Laughlin

J. M. Mathewson, M.D.

AT TSI-NAN-FOO.

AMERICAN PresetteriaN MISSION.

Rev. S. A. D. Hunter, M.D.

Rev. John Murray

Rev. Paul D. Bergen

AT TUNG CHOW-POO.

AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION.

Rev. C. R. Mills, D.D.

Rev. C. W. Mateer, D.D. Rev. W. M. Bayes J. B. Nea', 'I.D.

Mrs. J. M. Shaw (absent)

TAKU.

This village is situated at the mouth of the Pei-ho, on the southern side of the river, about sixty-seven miles from Tientsin. The land is so flat at Taku that it is difficult for a stranger to detect the entrance to the river. There are two anchorages, an outer and inner. The former extends from the Customs Junks to three miles outside the Bar, seaward; the latter from Liang-kia-yuan on the south to the Customs Jetty, Tz'chu-lin, on the north. The village is a poor one, possessing few shops, no buildings of interest except the forts, and the only foreign residents are the Customs employés, some pilots, and the members of the Vice-Cousular establish- ment. A line of telegraph was constructed in the early part of 1879 from Taku to Tientsin by the Provincial Authorities, was continued in 1888 to Tungchow, and completed, in August, 1884, to Peking,

Taku is memorable on account of the engagements that have taken place between its forts and the British and French naval forces. The first attack was made on the 20th May, 1858, by the British squadron under Sir Michael Seymour, when the forts were passed and Lord Elgin proceeded to Tientsin, where on the 26th June he signed the famous Treaty of Tientsin. The second attack, which was fatally unsuccessful, was made by the British forces in June, 1859. The third took place on the 21st August, 1860, when the forts were captured, the booms placed across the river destroyed, and the British ships sailed triumphantly up to Tientsin. From the description of the place in "The Treaty Ports of China," we gather that the water on the bar ranges from about two to fourteen feet at the Spring tides. The Chinese name of the bar is Lau-kiang-sha. At certain states of the tide, steamers are obliged to anchor outside until there is sufficient water to cross, but they are seldom detained very long. Towards the end of autumn it sometimes happens that the river is so low that vessels drawing over seven feet of water are unable to get up to Tientsin, The volume of water in the river grows less yearly owing to its being drawn off to supply new canals cut into the country. The river and the northern edge of the gulf are generally frozen in about the 9th December, and few vessels attempt an entry after the end of November. The ice breaks up, as a rule, about the second week in March,