Directory_and_Chronicle_1891 — Page 459

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

YUENSAN

are commercially represented at present. It is called Gensan by the Japanese and Wonsan by the Coreans, and under that name is thus described by Mr. Aston:-- "The town extends for a mile along the southern shore of the bay, and consists of about two thousand houses with a population of perhaps 10,000 inhabitants. One main street of some ten to twelve feet in width winds through from end to end and into this open numerous narrow and crooked alleys." Near each end of the town is an open space where a inarket, chiefly for agricultural produce, is held about six times a month. The houses are mean and dirty, and the town presents a poverty-stricken appearance. The harbour is a good one, being spacious, easy of access, well sheltered, with excellent holding ground, and convenient depth of water. January is the coldest month, and one corner of the harbour--that before the native town-is sometimes frozen over, but the part used by shipping is never covered with ice of such a thickness as to interfere with navigation. The native town is increasing in size and extending in the direction of the foreign Settlements. The Japanese have a nice clean looking Settlement, consisting of about a hundred houses built in semi-European style and a really fine Consulate, of foreign design, containing at least forty rooms and offices. The Chinese Settlement is a healthy tract of land, situated northwest of the Custom House. A noble building for the Imperial Consulate stands in the middle of the Settlement, and com- mands a view of the whole harbour. All the houses are built in Anglo-Chinese style, both of brick and wood. The Chinese merchants are carrying on an extensive business, especially in the export of gold. In 1889 there were 648 foreign residents, of whom 599 were Japanese. The population of the native city was in the same year estimated at 12,100. The country around Yuensan is under cultivation, and the soil is very rich. Within a short distance of the port are mines producing copper and other minerals, and gold is found amongst the neighbouring mountains. The cattle at this port, as nearly all over the country, are very fine and plentiful, and can be bought at very low rates; they are used as beasts of burden and for agricultural purposes.

The trade is carried on by two tri-weekly Nippon Yusen steamers, one from Japan. and the other from Shanghai, both running to Vladivostock, occasional steamers from Shanghai, and schooners and junks from Japan. The net value of the trade in 1889 was $1,491,135 as compared with $1,834,120 in 1888. The exports consist chiefly of hides, beans, gold-dust, dried fish, and skins. The imports consist chiefly of cotton and woollen manufactured goods and dyes.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1891 — Page 459

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