Directory_and_Chronicle_1895 — Page 601

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FORMOSA-TAMSUI AND KELUNG

name of Hillmen, and who have proved a resolute foe to the aborigines. Until 1874, when the Japanese landed a force in Formosa to punish one of the aboriginal tribes for the murder of some Loochooans shipwrecked on their coast, the Chinese Government had made no serious effort to extend their rule over any part of the eastern half of the island, but that event caused them to push forward their lines. A few of the aborigines nearer the coast have settled down to peaceful avocations, but the mountaineers still regard the Chinese with unappeasable hatred and hostility, though they have shown courtesy and kindness to the few foreigners who have visited their villages. The aborigines are said to be a fine featured, well made race, but sunk in barbarism and ignorance. The Chinese population of Formosa is estimated at about 2,500,000; the number of the aborigines it is, of course, quite impossible to estimate. The productions of Formosa are numerous, vegetation being everywhere most luxuriant, testifying to the richness of the soil. Rice, sugar, tea, and camphor are largely cultivated and ex- ported. The fauna includes bears, monkeys, deer, wild hoar, badgers, martens, the Scaly anteater, and other smaller animals. Birds are not very numerous, and snakes are not so common as might be expected where vegetation is so abundant. It is believed that the mineral wealth of the island is very considerable. Gold has been found and worked in the beds of the streams; valuable coal mines are in work near Kelung, and sulphur springs also exist in the north of the island. The interior of the island is, however, still practically unexplored. One great drawback to the island is its want of good harbours, which is more especially felt on account of the strength of the monsoons in the Formosa Channel. Those on the eastern side are few and neither commodious nor accessible, while on the west coast most of the harbours are little better than open roadsteads. Taipeh is the capital of Formosa, but Tainan-fu is the chief city in point of trade and population. The Treaty ports are four in number-- Takow and Tainan-fu in the south, and Tamsui and Kelung in the north. The latter was held for some months in 1884-5 by the French, under Admiral Courbet, but was evacuated on the 21st June, 1885. The rivers of Formosa are few, shallow, and winding, only navigable to small flat-bottomed boats. The scenery is delightful, and the climate is very pleasant in the winter, but hot and malarious in the wet season. The late Governor, H. E. Liu Ming-chuan, who retired in 1891, commenced many measures of improvement, introducing railways and various now industries but most of these schemes are languishing under his successor.

TAMSUI AND KELUNG

The port of Tamsui lies in lat. 25 deg. 10 min. N. and long. 101 deg. 26 min. E. on the northern side of the fertile island of Formosa. It is an uninteresting place. The harbour, like all others in Formosa, has a troublesome bar, which greatly retards the growth of the port. Dredging would do much to render it more accessible. The town, called Hûbei, is situated on the north side of the river, about two miles from the bar. In October, 1884, the French ships under Admiral Courbet bombarded Tamsui, but were unable to take the place. The population of Tamsui is estimated at 100,000. The trade is not extensive. Tea grows on the hills in the locality, and the production of Formosa Oolongs is annually increasing. In 1872 the export only amounted to 19,513 piculs, while in 1893 it reached 163,313 piculs. The total value of the trade of the port in 1893 was Tls. 7,849,951, and in 1892, Tls. 5,772,583.

The port of Kelung lies to the north-east of Tamsui, in latitude 25 deg. 6 min. N. and longitude 121 deg. 47 min. E. It is situated on the shores of a bay between the capes of Foki and Peton, some twenty miles apart, amidst bold and striking scenery, backed by a range of mountains. It was once a Spanish Settlement, but was subsequently captured and held by the Dutch until they in turn gave place to the Chinese under Koxinga, a pirate chief who caused himself to be proclaimed King of Formosa Though a mere village, it has long carried on a considerable native trade with Amoy, Chin-chew, and Foochow. Its staple product is coal, the mines of which could be made very productive; one colliery at Coal Harbour has been worked by the Government, with modern English machinery, but the output has never been very great. Sulphur also abounds in a valley in the neighbourhood, but the Authorities will not allow it to be worked. Kelung was opened to foreign trade at the same time as the other Formosan ports. The foreign trade at this port is chiefly confined to the shipment of