Directory_and_Chronicle_1886 — Page 393

FORMOSA-TAKAO AND TAIWAN-FU,

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accessible, while on the west coast most of the harbours are little better than open roadsteads. The Treaty ports are all situate on the western coast, and are four in number-Takao and Taiwan-fu in the south, and Tamsui and Kelung in the north. The latter was held for some months in 1884-5 by the French, under Admiral Courbet, but was evacuated on the 21st June, 1885. The rivers of Formosa are few, shallow, and winding, only navigable to small flat-bottomed boats. The scenery is delightful, and the climate is very pleasant in the winter, but hot and malarious in the wet season.

TAKAO AND TAIWAN-FU.

Takao is a port in South Formosa, and is situated in lat. 22 deg. 38 min. 3 sec. No and long. 130 deg. 16 min. 30 sec. E. It was thrown open to foreign trade in 1864. It is only a small town, occupied chiefly by Chinese fishermen, and, save the beautiful scenery surrounding it, possesses no features of interest. The appearance of the place and its vicinity from the sea is very pleasant. Ape's Hill is seen rising on the left and an eminence called the Saracen's Head on the right. The outer anchorage is shallow and exposed, but the channel between Ape's Hill and the Saracen's Head, which leads into the inner harbour, is, though narrow, very deep, ranging from 20 to 25 fathoms. Farther in, past the forts, the channel is narrowed still more by the spreading sandbanks, and the depth of water is reduced to 10 to 13 fathoms. The inner harbour is a placid, lagoon-like sheet of water, some six or seven miles long by two to three miles broad, on the south side of which on a low sandbank the town of Takao is built. The entrance to the port is protected by strongly situated forts, which were in 1884 strengthened and more heavily armed. Most of the foreign hongs are situated on a flat strip of land outside the forts, between Ape's Hill and the Customs' Jetty, and a bund has been constructed in front, alongside which the foreign shipping usually lie. It is reported that petroleum and coal are to be found in large quantities a few miles to the south of Takao. The soil of the country around Takao is extremely fertile; banyans and bamboos grow luxuriantly, and sugar planta- tions are numerous. Sugar is the principal article of export from Takao, and in 1884 it amounted to 897,110 piculs as against 734,653 piculs in 1883. The import of Opium in 1884 amounted to 2,308 piculs, as against 2,752 piculs in 1883. The value of the trade of the port in 1884 was Tls. 3,084,068, and in 1883 Tls. 3,172,996. For some months in 1884 the port was blockaded by the French, which fact fully explains the decline in trade. The population of Takao is estimated at 10,000.

The city of Taiwan-fu lies about twenty miles from Takao, in lat. 23 deg. 6 min. N. and long. 129 deg. 5 min. E. It is a place of considerable size and importance, and may be regarded as the capital of the island. It is situated about three miles from the coast, with which connection is kept up by means of canals. The walls of the city are some six miles in circumference and enclose many buildings and places of interest. Among these is an Examination Hall for the Chinese literati, capable of accommodating several thousand students. There are a great many trees and open spaces in the city, which give it a rather pleasant appearance. Seaward of the city is an extensive suburb, containing the markets, and which is really the business por- tion of Taiwan. In the locality are the ruins of Zealandia, a fort which was built in 1630, and which was the chief stronghold of the Dutch in Formosa until they were driven out by the Chinese pirate chief Koxinga. The Customs give no returns of trade here, as they are included with those of Takao. The port is an open shallow roadstead, and vessels have to anchor at some distance from the shore. The approa- ches to the city are defended by a line of forts, some mounting heavy Krupp guns. The population of Taiwan-fu is estimated at 235,000.