Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 491

FUSAN.

Fusan, or Pusan as it is also called, is the chief port of Kiung-sang, the south- eastern province of Corea, and lies in lat. 35 deg. 6 min. 6 sec. N. and long. 129 deg. 3 mio. 2 sec. E. It was opened to Japanese trade in 1876 and to Americans in 1883. The native town is a collection of thatched cabins with a population of about 2,000 inha- bitants. The Japanese settlement is situated a little distance from the native town, opposite the island of Cholyongdo, and is regularly laid out, lean, and well kept. It is under the control of the Consul, who is, however, assisted by an elective Municipal Council. Order is maintained by a Police Force in uniforms of European pattern. The Japanese residents number over 2,000, of whom about half are from the island of Tsushima. The Corean town of Fusan is a walled city, situated at the head of the harbour; it contains the Royal granaries for storing rice, a few wretched houses, and the residence of the small military official in charge. The harbour is large and capacious, with a sufficient depth of water to accommodate the largest vessels. There are fourteen native villages situated at the head of the harbour, and within a few miles of the Japanese settlement. The climate is very salubrious and the place considered extremely healthy. Sea bathing may be had in perfection. The district city Toong Li Fu, which is distant about eight miles, is the local centre of trade. The principal exports are hides, horns, bones, sea weed (red and white), dried fish, shark's fins, beans, nutgalls, oil-cake, cotton piece goods, grass cloths, raw silk, peas, and in good years rice, and wheat, sundry medicines. The chief imports are piece goods, glass, blankets, white metal, kerosine oil, aniline dyes, matches (Japanese), paper, and sundries. A branch of the Foreign Customs Service was established in July, 1883. The Mitsu Bishi Mail Steamship Company run a regular line of steamers between Kobe and Wladivostock, calling at Nagaraki, Fusan, and Yuensan; and in 1883 started a regular line from Kol e to Jenchuan, calling at Nagasaki and Fusan. Monthly communica' n with Japan is also maintained by a small steamer. Fusan was connected with J..pan by a submarine telegraph cable in November, 1883.

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The trade of the port has fallen off very considerably, which is attributed to the opening of Chemulpo, that port being nearer the capital. The following are the principal articles of imports and their value, taken from the Returns of Trade for the first half of the year 1884:-Foreign Piece Goods, principally Grey Shirtings and Victoria Lawns, $64,837.00; Aniline Dyes, $3,275.00; Metala, 87,496 00; White Metal, 55,208.00; and Kerosine Oil, $2,183,00. The total value of the import trade for the period mentioned amounts to little over $200,000. The value of the principal exports was as follows:-Beane, $7,653.00; Bicho de Mer, 35,660.00; Gall Nuts, $1,714.00; Cow Hides, $47,071.00; Seaweed Funori, $3,410.00; Se..weed Tento, $856.00; and Raw Silk, $2,698.00.

The crops for 1884 were very good, the wheat and rice harvest being abundant. No foreign firm has yet been ablished in Fusan, principally owing to the extremely small way in which business is conducted.

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During the year several foreigners have travelled in the iuterior, which is found very mountainous, with small but rich valleys. The people have no wealth, but abundance of food and tobacco, which appears all they want, and they are comforta- bly clothed. Minerals have been sought for and found, but it appears somewhat

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