Directory_and_Chronicle_1888 — Page 397

SWATOW.

Swatow, which was first thrown open to foreigners by Lord Elgin's Treaty, is mizuated at the mouth of the river Han, near the eastern border of the Kwangtung province, in lat. 23 deg. 20 min. 43 sec. N., and long. 116 deg. 39 min. 3 sec. E. I the shipping port for the city of Cha'o-cnow-fu, the seat of the local governmentt 35 miles inland, and San-Ho-Pa, forty miles farther up the river.

Swatow is built on the northern bank of the Han, which forms part of an alluvial plain through which the branches of the river flow. The shore on the opposite side is bold and striking, the hills stretching away to the coast and forming what is known to sea-going people as the "Cape of Good Hope;" Pagoda Hill rises at the side; and in a direct line from this lies the large island of Namoa.

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The first foreign trading depôt in this locality was inaugurated at Nam where the opium vessels used to anchor, but it was subsequently removed to Double Island, which is situated just inside the river and is four miles from Swatow. Foreigners here made themselves notorious in the early years of the settlement by the kidnapping of coolies, and so strong was the feeling shown against them by the natives that . foreigners were safe far from Double Island, while they were strictly forbidden to enter Swatow, and it was not until 1861 that they could do so. In the country round Batow the antipathy to foreigners was of much longer duration. The British Consul was held technically to reside a: Clo-chow-fu, and subsequent to 1861 several in- effectual attempts were made to pass through its gates. In 1866 a visit was mado under more favourable circumstances, but it is only within the last few years that ribe population has refrained from annoyance and insult to foreigners within its walls. In 1862 the lease of a piece of land was applied for and granted to the British Government on the north bank of the river about a mile from Swatow, but so strong were the demonstrations of the populace against it that the matter fell through. Foreign residences, however, commenced to spring up here and there, and many o, them are consequently somewhat scattered, though the majority are in or near thf town of Swatow. The yearly increasing traffic of the port has led to much overa crowding on the narrow strip of land on which it is built, and since February, 1877- me less than 214 acres have been reclaimed from the sea, the greater part of which

s now covered with shops and houses.

The climate of Swatow is reputed to be very salubrious. The town occupies, how- ever, an unenviable position as regards typhoons, on account of being opposite the lower mouth of the Formosa Channel, and it has on many occasions been subjected do all the viclence of these terrible storms, which almost every year sweep across the Blower coast of China. The population of Swatow is estimated at 30,000.

The foreign trade of Swatow has never been large, but of late years it has shown a slight increase. The proximity of the port to Hongkong, which can be reached in from 15 to 20 hours, no doubt tells against it, as it enables the Chinese to conduct their own import business. The quantity of Opium imported, once very considerable, has of late years declined, but the total in 1886 showed an increase, being 6,471 piculs as compared with 3,888 picula in 1885, 4,397 piculs in 1884, 4,377 piouls an 1883, and 10,063 piculs in 1879. The quantity of Tea exported is very small, and reached only 10,042 piculs in 1886. A considerable trade is done in Sugar, there theing 652,973 piculs browu and 656,512 piculs white exported in 1886. The Chini Bagar Refining Co. of Hongkong have a large Sugar Refinery here. A large bean- ake factory was also started in 1882. The value of the trade of the port for 1886 tras Tls. 21,112,425, as compared with Tls. 19,268,156 in 1885.