Directory_and_Chronicle_1889 — Page 403

CANTON.

873

the buildings along the river in ruins. Recourse for accommodation was consequently had to warehouses on the Honam side of the river. Considerable discussion subse quently took place as to the selection of a site for a permanent British settlement, and it was eventually determined that an extensive mudflat known as Shameen should be filled in and appropriated. In 1859 an artificial island was created there, a canal constructed between the northern side of the site and the city, and solid and extensive embankments of masonry built. It took about two years to complete this undertaking, and cost no less than $325,000. Of this sum four-fifths were defrayed by the British, and one-fifth by the French Government, to whom a portion of the reclaimed land was given, but they have never built on it. The French also received a grant of the old site of the Viceroy's Yamên, on which the new Catholic Cathedral has been erected. Shameen is pleasingly laid out, and the roads are shaded with well grown trees. A neat church, called Christ Church, stands at the western end. During an anti-foreign riot on the 10th September, 1883, sixteen houses and the Concordia Theatre on the Settlement were burned by the mob.

In consequence of the decline in the importance of Canton as a place of trade, caused principally by the opening of some of the northern ports, many of the merchants by whom lots were purchased there in 1861, at enormous prices, hava withdrawn from Canton altogether. The trade now transacted there by foreigners ia limited. Tea and Silk are the staple exports. The tot 1 export of Tea for the

year ending 31st December, 1887, was 15,879,535 lbs. compared with 13,686,631 lbs. in 1886, and the quantity of Raw Silk (exclusive of Refuse and Wild Silk) exported in 1887 was 22,950 piculs as compared with 19,406 piculs in 1886. The import of Opium in 1887 was 7,761 piculs as compared with 1,070 piculs in 1886. This large increase is due to the new rules under the Opium Convention having caused an alteration in the course of the trade, rather than to increased consumption; formerly much of the opium was carried in native junks and did not appear in the returns of the Foreign Customs. The total value of the trade of the port for 1887 was Tls. 37,334,157 as compared with Tls. 37,593,405 in 1886. The purely native trade of Canton still enjoys a high degree of prosperity.

Ample means of communication exist between Canton and Hongkong, a distance of about ninety-five miles, by foreign steamers plying daily, and a large number of native craft. There is daily steam communication with Macao. Steamers also run regularly between Shanghai, Hongkong, and Canton. There is a safe and commodious anchorage within 150 yards of the river wall at Shameen. Only steamsræ go to Canton; sailing vessels never ascend beyond Whampoa, owing to the difficulties of navigating a crowded river. Canton was connected by telegraph (an overland Ine) with Kowloon in 1883, and another overland line was completed from Canton to Lungchau-fu, on the Kwangsi and Tonquin frontier, in June, 1884.

Consulates.

DIRECTORY.

署事領國法大

署事領國英大

Tai Ying-krok Ling-sz shü.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Consul C. Alabaster

Interpreter & Pro Consul-H. B. Joly

Assistant-J. W. Jamieson

Linguist-Feng Min-sun Constable-H. Evans

Writers-Lu Hsio-t'ing, Li Mêng-hsiang Post Office Agent―J. Ŵ. Jamieson

Tai Fat-kwok Ling.sz shu. FRANCE.

Consul Honoraire-C. Imbault-Huart

Interprète Chancelier-G. Kahn

Writer-Ou Jen-y

UNITED STATES.

Consul-Chas. Seymour

Interpreter-Chin Poy Woo Chinese Writer-Lee U Lin

24