Directory_and_Chronicle_1887 — Page 465

CHINKIANG.

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

The history of Chinkiang 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 Yangtsze. 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 Ts'io-shan. When the city was abandoned by the rebel forces, its destruction was very nearly complete, and it has now hardly recovered its former prosperous aspect. The city is enclosed by walls and defended by rather formidable looking batteries commanding the river approaches. The foreign settlement occupies a tract of land extending from the mouth of the Canal along the bank of the river. The little settlement has a neat bund, is provided with a club, and has small Protestant and Catholic churches. 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 Yangtsze seems to have centred at Hankow, farther up the river. The net importation of Opium into Chinkiang in 1885 was 8,301 piculs, against 10,900 piculs in 1884. The net value of the foreign imports for 1885 was Tls. 8,377,560. The total value of the trade of the port for 1885 amounted to Tls. 12,881,223, and in 1884 it was Tls. 12,084,931.

DIRECTORY.

Consulates.

BRITISH.

門衙事領英大

GERMAN.

府事頜國德大 Ta-teh-kwoh ling-sze-foo.

Ta Ying ling.sze ya-mun.

Consul-E. L. Oxenham

Consul-E. L. Oxenham

Consul-E. L. Oxenham

Constable-Charles Nunn

UNITED STATES.

官事領國美大

Ta-mei-kwoh ling-sse-kwan.

Consul E. J. Smithers (absent)

Vice-Consul in charge-Leo A. Bergholz

Linguist—Wện Ping-chung

FRENCH.

Consul-E. L. Oxenham

¶

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN.

DANISH.

Ta-tan ling-sze ya-mun.

Consul E. L. Oxenham

JAPANESE.

Acting Consul—Leo Bergholz

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