74
CHINA
The estimates of the public revenue of China vary greatly, and, while they are stated by some to exceed 100 millions sterling, are held by others not to come up to half that amount. Official returns of the Chinese Government, published in 1844, stated the annual revenue at that time at Tls. 191,803,139, or £63,934,713. According to the memorials from officials published in the Peking Gazette, it would appear that there are almost constant deficits, which the governors and high officials of provinces must cover by extraordinary taxation. The public revenue is mainly derived from three sources, namely, custom duties, licences, and a tax upon land, but the receipts from the foreign customs are alone made known. This was
1870...
>>
...... ""
19
1890...
-35
In 1865.........Tls. 8,289,281 In 1875....
In 1875.........Tls.
.Tls. 11,968,109 In 1885........Tls. 14,472,766 9,543,977 1880.....
14,258,583
21,996,226 China had no foreign debt till the end of 1874, when a loan of £627,675, bearing 8 per cent. interest, was contracted through the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, under Imperial authority and secured by the customs' revenue. Since then a number of loans have been raised, most of them through the agency of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, several of which have been paid off. The total Foreign debt of China is inconsiderable.
AREA AND POPULATION.
China proper, extending over 73,093 geographical, or 1,534,953 English square miles, is divided into eighteen provinces, the area and population of which are given below:-
Province
Provincial Capital
Area English
Square Miles
Estimated Population
Chihli...
Peking
58,949
28,114,023
Shantung
Tsinan
65,104
28,958,764
Shansi
Taiyuen..
55,268
27,260,281
Honan
Kaifung.
65,104
23,037,171
Kiangsu.
Nanking
Anhwei
Ngankin
92,661 {
37,843,501
34,168,059
Kiangsi
Nanchang
72,176
30,426,999
Fohkien.
Foochow
53,480
38,888,432
Chekiang
Hangchow
39,150
26,256,784
Hupeh Hunan Shensi Kansuh
Szechuen
Kwangtung
Wuchang
Changchau
381,724 { 37,370,098
18,652,507
Sigan
10,207,256
154,008
Lanchow
15,193,135
Chingtu
166,800
21,435,678
Kwangsi
Yunnan
Kweichau
Canton Kwelin
79,456
19,147,030
78,250
7,313,895
Yunnan.
Kweiyang
107,869
5,561,320
64,554
5,288,219
1,534,953
405,213,152
The above population, giving 263 souls per square mile througout China proper, although partly based on official returns, is not at all reliable. An estimate given by the Board of Revenue of the population in 1887 made it 303,241,969, which is probably much nearer the mark.
The total number of foreigners in China in 1889 was 7,905, of whom 3,276 were natives of Great Britain and Ireland, 1,061 of the United States, 596 of Germany, 551 of France, 348 of Spain, 794 of Japan, and 536 Portuguese, all other nationalities being represented by very few members.
In addition to China proper there are its dependencies. The principal of these are Mongolia, with an area of 1,288,035 square miles, and some 2,000,000 people; and Manchuria, with an area of 362,313 square miles, and an estimated population of 15,000,000. The latter is being steadily and rapidly colonised by Chinese, who greatly outnumber the Manchus in their own land. Thibet, which is also practically a dependency of China, has an area of 643,734 square miles and a population of 6,000,000 souls. It is ruled by the Dalai Lama, but subject to the Government of Peking, who maintain a Resident at Lhassa.
ARMY AND Navy.
The standing military force of China consists of two great divisions, the first formed hy the more immediate subjects of the ruling dynasty, the Manchus, and the second by the Chinese and other subject races. The first, the main force upon which the Imperial
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