Directory_and_Chronicle_1890 — Page 655

NAGASAKI.

Nagasaki is a city of great antiquity, and in the early days of European inter- course with the Far East was the most important seat of the foreign trade with Japan. It is admirably situated on the south-western coast of the island of Kiushiu. A m lancholy interest attaches to the neighborhood as the scene of the extinction of Christianity in the empire and the extermination of the professors of that religion in 1637. At the entrance to the harbour lies the celebrated island of Pappeuberg, where thousands of Christian martyrs were thrown over the high cliff rather than

go through the form of trampling on the cross. Not far from Nagasaki is also the village of Mogi, where 37,000 Christians suffered death in defending themselves against the forces sent to subdue them. When the Christian religion was crushed and the foreigners expelled, to the Dutch alone was extended the privilege of trading with Japan, and they were confined to a small plot of ground at Nagasaki called Desima. By the treaty of 1858, Nagasaki was one of the ports opened to British trade ou the 1st July in the following year. On entering the harbour of Nagasaki no stranger can fail to be struck with the admirable situation of the town and the beautiful panorama of hilly scenery opened to his view. The harbour is a landlocked inlet deeply indented with small bays, about three miles long with a width varying from half a mile to a mile. The native town is on the eastern side of the harbour, and is about two miles long by about three-quarters of a mile in extreme width. The foreign settlement adjoins the native town on the south side. The chief mercantile houses are situated on the bund facing the harbour, behind which are a few streets running parallel with it, and there are a number of private residences on the hill side. There are English Protestant and Roman Catholic churches, two clubs, and a Masonic Lodge. The Nagasaki dock is capable of docking the largest steamers. Its dimensions are:-Length (inside caisson at top), 438 feet; length on blocks, 375 feet; breadth of entrance at top 89, and at bottom, 77 feet; depth of water on blocks at spring tides, 27 feet 6 inches, and at neap tides 22 feet. Attached to the dock are extensive Engine Works most completely equipped and fitted. These works were originally built by the Japanese Government, but they now b long, as does the dock, to the Mitsu Bishi Company. The climate of Nagasaki is mild and salubrious, but in summer it is hot during the day by reason of the position of the town, being in a hollow surrounded by hills.

After the opening of the port the trade for several years steadily developed, but it subsequently declined, owing to various causes, but chiefly prhaps on account of its gradual attraction to Yokohama. During the last six years, however, there has been a steady improvement in the foreign trade, which has doubled itself in that period. The chief articles of import are cotton and woollen manufactures. The principal exports are coal, tea, camphor, rice, vegetable wax, tobacco, and dried fish. There are several very productive coal mines on the islands near Nagasaki, of which the Takashima mine is the most important. The net output of the Takashima mines in 1888 was 350,877 tons.

The value of the foreign import trade of Nagasaki during the year 1889 was £369,516, as compared with £238,939 in 1887 and that of the foreign export trale, £844,016 as against £645,904 in 1887. Coal is the staple article of export, accounting for nearly half of the total export trade.

The population of Nagasaki in 1888 was 43,351. The number of foreign residents, as given in the Consular report for 1888, was 979, of whom 688 were Chinese and 291 Europeans and Americans. A small foreign weekly paper entitled the Rising Sun is published in the port.