Directory_and_Chronicle_1897 — Page 164

SHANGHAI

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The Foreign population increased rapidly up to 1865, but declined considerably during the next ten years. The census of 1865 gave the number of foreign residents in the three Settlements as 2,757, army and navy (British) 1,851, shipping 981, a total of 5,589. In 1870 the total in the Anglo-American Settlement was 1,666; in 1876, 1,673; in 1880, 2,197; in 1885, 3,673; in 1890, 3,821. By the census of 24th June, 1895, there were in the Settlements north of the Yang-king-pang a total of 4,684 foreigners; 1,295 in the English division, 2,903 in Hongkew, 486 in outside roads and Pootung. Of these 2,068 were males, 1,227 females, and 1,489 children, against 1,086 males, 296 females, and 291 children in 1876; and 1,775 males, 1,011 females and 887 children, in 1885. The fluctua- tions in the foreign population have been very remarkable. Between 1870 and 1880 the number of adult males decreased, while in the next five years it increased by over fifty per cent. In the nine years 1876 to 1885 the whole foreign population more than doubled, but in the next five years it showed an increase of only 148, of whom 144 were children. The increase has been greatest in Hongkew, where the population is five times what it was in 1876, whereas that of the British Settlement is less than in 1885. The foreign population of the French Concession on the same date was 190 males, 78 females, and 162 children, a total of 430 against 444 in 1890. A curious fact is that of children under, fifteen only 26 were males while 136 were females. The proportion of different nationalities in all the settlements was in 1895, 2,002 British, 741 Portuguese, 357 American, 399 German and Austrian, 281 French, 154 Spanish, 89 Danish, 88 Italian, 82 Swedish and Norwegian, 31 Russian, 111 of various other European nationalities, 322 Eurasians, 268 Japanese, 127 Indians, and 62 Manilamen and other Asiatics. While the adult Foreign male population has increased only 61 per cent. since the census of 1870, the number of women has been multiplied six and of children nine times. These figures do not include the population afloat, which at the date of the census was 1,306 against 1,009 in 1890 and 893 in 1885. Although the Chinese have no right of residence within the Foreign Settlement, and indeed were expressly prohibited by the original Land Regulations, some twenty thousand sought refuge within the boundaries from the rebels in 1854, and when the city was besieged by the Taipings in 1860 there were, it is said, at least four hundred thousand natives within the Settlements. As they found some amenities from "squeezing" when under the protection of foreigners, and foreigners themselves being able to obtain a much higher rental for their land, and finding native house property a very profitable investment, no opposition was made to their residence. In 1870 there were in the three Settlements 75,047;

in 1880, 107,812; in 1890, 168,129. The numbers by the last census (June, 1895) were, in the British Settlement 116,204, in Hongkew 103,102, in Foreign Hongs in both Settlements 6,991, villages and huts within the limits 8,429, in shipping and boats 6,269, total 240,995; an increase of 43 per cent. in five years. The native population. of the French Concession on the same date was 45,758, against 34,722 in 1890, and the boat population about 6,000; say a total for the three Settlements and afloat of about 293,000, more than half of whom are adult males. The majority are immigrants from other provinces who followed in the wake of foreigners. The population of the native city is supposed to be about 125,000. The large congregation of natives in the Settlements is kept in admirable order by a Police force of 54 Europeans, 69 Indians, and 379 natives for the north of the Yang-king-pang, and 40 foreigners and 71 natives for the French Concession, or about one constable for every 600 inhabitants. As the natives have to be tried by their own authorities, and bribery doubtless works its effects in Shanghai as elsewhere in China, the difficulties of organizing and efficiently working such a small force are considerable. In few places are life and property more secure.

The climate of Shanghai is generally allowed to be fairly healthy. The death rate amongst foreigners ashore and afloat during the past seventeen years has ranged from 17.2 thousand (in 1884) to 30.8 per thousand (in 1881). The rate in 1895, calculated on the per basis of the census taken in June of that year was 19.3 per thousand. It was given as 23.5 in 1894 and 18.4 in 1893, but these figures are too high, having been based on the population in 1890. Partial outbreaks of cholera have occurred at intervals, but a large proportion of the cases were among the ships in harbour. The highest recorded number of deaths from this cause among foreigners was 32, in 1890. Of these, 18 were amongst residents. In 1891, 92, and '93 there were no deaths from cholera among foreign residents, but it reappeared in 1895 when 20 deaths were recorded, of which 11 were those of residents. On the basis of the shore population the death rate was 15.6 per thousand in 1895, and has varied, so far as can be estimated in the absence of an annual census, from 23 per 1,000 in 1891 to 14.2 per 1,000 in 1884, a rate which compares favourably with that of large towns in Europe. The Health Officer in a late report says that "out of the seventy-five deaths registered, there were but nine