Directory_and_Chronicle_1888 — Page 486

HANKOW.

Hankow is situated on the river Han at the point where in enters the Yangtsze, and is in lat. 30 deg. 32 min. 51 sec. N., and long. 114 deg. 19 min. 55 sec. E. It was formerly regarded as only a suburb of Hanyang, which it immediately adjoins, and which is a district city of the province of Hupeh, but has outstripped the older city in wealth and importance. These two towns lie immediately facing the city of Wuchang-fu, the capital of the province, which is built upon the south bank of the Yangtsze. Hankow is distant from Shanghai about 600 miles.

Atention was first drawn to Hankow as a place of trade by Huc, a French missionary. Captain Blakiston, in his work "The Yangtsze," gives the following correct description of the place and its surrounding:-"Hankow is situated just where an irregular range of semi-detached low bills crosses a particularly level country on both sides of the main river in an east and west direction. Stationed on Pagoda Hill, Hanyang, a spectator looks down on almost as much water as land even when the rivers are low. At his feet sweeps the magnificent Yangtsze, nearly a mile in width; from the west and skirting the northern edge of the range of hills already mentioned, comes the river Hin, narrow and canal like, to add its quota, and serving as one of the highways of the country; and to the north-west and north is an extensive treeless flat, so little elevated above the river that the scattered hamlets which dot its surface are without exception raised on mounds, probably artificial works of a now distant ag. A stream or two traverse its farther part and flow into the main river. Carrying his eye to the right bank of the Yangtsze one sees enormous lakes and lagoons both to the north-west and south-east sides of the hills beyond the provincial city."

The port was opened to foreign trade in 1861. The British Settlement is located at the east end of the city, which it joins, and is, together with the Race Course, inclu led within the city walls, which are quite modern, having been built at the time of the Taiping Rebellion. It is well laid out, the roads being broa i and all lined with well grown trees. The Bund, which is exactly half a mile in length, affords a very fine and pleasant promenade, and has an imposing appearance from the river. There are a large Roman Catholic and small Protestant and Greek churches, the latter a rather handsome structure built by the Russian residents. Several Brick Tea factories owned by Russians are located in the Settlement. A capital club, with tennis and racquet courts, bowling alley, billiard and reading rooms, library, &c. is k pt up.

A French Settlement was also fixed upon, but it has never been occupied. The river steamers go alongside hulks moored close to shore; ocean steamers anchor iu mid stream. The current is very strong in the river. The population of Hankow is estimated at 700,000.

Great expectations as regards trade were entertained respecting the opening of Hankow. Foreign commerce would, it was thought, be brought into immediate contact with the large internal population of China, and a port be established in the locality of the great tea producing districts. These expectations, however, have been but partially realised. Tea is, of course the staple export, and it is at Hankow that the first steamers for home take in their cargoes. The total export of Tea from Hankow (including re-exports of Kiukiang tea) amounted in 1886 to 895,031 piculs, as compared with 804,934 piculs shipped in 1885. In 1886 Opium was imported to The extent of 1,342 piculs as against 2,418 piculs in 1885. The trade under the transit pass system is arger at Hankow than at any other port; its value in 1886 was Tls. 4,931,557 as compared with Tls. 6,339,700 in 1885. The total value of the trade of the port in 1886 amounted to Tls. 34,191,477, and in 1885 to Tls. 38,247,658.