Directory_and_Chronicle_1887 — Page 410

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WENCHOW.

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been 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 streets are wider, straighter, and cleaner than those of most Chinese cities. They are well paved with brick and kept in careful and constant repair by the householders. They slope down on either side to water ways, which in their turn communicate with canals permeating the whole city. The streets therefore are not only easily kept clean, but this is specially accomplished by bands of scavengers, who go round every morning at daylight, sweeping and removing dirt or refuse. Wênchow, in this particular, is unique among Chinese cities, which are chiefly remarkable for their excessive filthiness. There are numerous large nunneries and temples in Wênchow. The Custom-house, outside the chief gate, known as the Shwang Mên or Double Gate," the Taotai's Yamên, the Prefect's and other public offices in a cluster, and 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 interest of invested subscriptions and the rental of alluvial lands presented to it by the Government. The number of foundlings on the establishment's books at one time varies from two to three hundrel. 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 Beggar'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 Emperor 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 80,000 to 100,000.

Wênchow 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 order to prevent the teas from falling into the hands of the T'ai-p'ing rebels, who 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 Foochow in the south and to Ningpo in the north. It was thought that on the conversion of Wênchow 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 Wênchow market for $2 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 rafts from Ch'u-chow. The annual value of this trade is estimated to be not less than $2,000,000. The shops and yards engaged in it are situated in the west suburb, where immense quantities of bamboos and poles are kept on hand. Wênchow is also celebrated for its bitter oranges. The net value of the foreign imports for the year 1885 was Tls. 296,343, as against Tls. 292,344 in 1884. The export of Tea in 1885, was 2,919 piculs, as compared with 1,514 piculs in 1884. In 1885, 21 piculs of Opium were imported, as compared with 82 piculs in 1884. The value of the whole trade of the port for 1885 was Tls. 487,870, compared with Tls. 434,391 in 1884.