Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 486

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

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 Japanese took possession on the 7th June, 1895. 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 1894 it reached 154,003 piculs. The total value of the trade of the port in 1894 was Tls. 8,305,948 and in 1893, Tls. 7,849,951.

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 would 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 coal, The export in 1894 was 24,243 tons às compared with 21,748 tons in 1893. The limits of the port are defined to be within a straight line drawn from Tinage Point to Bush Island. On the 5th August, 1884, the port was bombarded by the French under Admiral Léspes, when the forts above the town were reduced to ruins, and the place captured. It was then garrisoned by the French, who held it until after the Treaty of peace had been signed at Tientsin in June, 1885. The place was occupied by the Japanese on the 3rd June, 1895. A railway connects Kelung with Taipeh, the capital, and will be ex- tended thence to Tainan-fu.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 486

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