Directory_and_Chronicle_1898 — Page 628

CHINKIANG

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China was transported to Peking by the interior route. The British forces captured the place in July, 1842, and as the cutting off of supplies always operates with great effect, the commanding situation thus secured was not long in producing the desired result upon the Central Government, for the Treaty of Nanking was signed a month afterwards. The Taiping rebels entered the town in April, 1853, and continued to occupy it till 1857, when they had to evacuate it from the same cause which had made the Government yield fifteen years before.

The city lies between one of the mouths of the Grand Canal and the right bank of the Yangtsze. Most of the houses are built on level ground, but the surrounding hills lend a pleasant appearance to the locality, which is considerably enhanced by the bluff scenery of the island of Tsio-shan. When the city was abandoned by the rebel forces, its destruction was very nearly complete, and it has even now hardly recovered its former prosperous aspect. The city is enclosed by walls and defended by rather formidable looking batteries commanding the river approaches. The foreign settlement occupies a tract of land extending from the mouth of the Canal along the bank of the river. The little settlement has a neat bund, is provided with a club, and has small Protestant and Catholic churches. It was the scene of a formidable riot on the 5th February, 1889, when about half the foreign houses and buildings were destroyed by a native mob. The population of Chinklang is estimated at 140.000.

Considerable conmmercial importance was attached to the port when it was first opened. The largest vessels can approach it, and hopes were high as to the position it would occupy in the development of inland trade with China; but the trade on the Yangtsze seems to have centred at Hankow, farther up the river. The net value of the foreign imports for 1896 was Tls. 12,637,832 as compared with Tls. 12,622,423 in 1895. The import of Opium into Chinkiang in 1896 was 3,423 piculs, against 3,893 piculs in 1895, and 10,900 piculs in 1884, the trade having declined owing to the competition of the lighter taxed native drug. The total value of the trade of the port for 1896 amounted to Tls. 22,950,209, and in 1895 to Tls. 29,850,648, the decline being due to a decline in the coastwise shipment of rice.

Prou-ying

DIRECTORY

BOWERN, T. W., Merchant and Comn. Agent

☆★ Tai-koo

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Merchants

T. Weatherston

Agencies

China Navigation Co.: Hulk “Cadiz.”

Ocean Steamship Company

Union Insurance Society of Canton Royal Insurance Society

London & Lancashire Fire Insce. Co.

Chau-shang-cihin-kuk

CHINA MERCHANTS' STEAM NAVIGN. Co.;

Hulk "Express "

Chu Seting, agent

Agency

China Merchants' Insurance Company

CHINKIANG Club

Committee-Walter Lay (chairman),

A. E. Allen, F. Gregson (hon. sec.)

CONSULATES

門衙事領英大

Ta Ying lng sze ya-mun

GREAT BRITAIN

also in charge of interests of

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

FRANCE GERMANY

Consul-R. W. Hurst

Constable-A. E. Young

官事國美大

Ta-mei-kwoh ling-sze-kwan

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Consul--General A. C. Jones

Interpreter-Wan Bing-chung

關江鎭

Chin-kiang-kwan

CUSTOMS-IMPERIAL MARITIME

Commissioner--F. S. Unwin

Assistant J. H. M. Moorhead

Do. —C. E. Tanant Do. -J. R. Putnamn

Medical Officer-J. A. Lynch, M.D. Tidesurveyor and Harbour Master-

C. H. Palmer

Acting Boat Officer-J. J. C. Lorentzen Postal Officer-W. A. Washbrook Examiners--S. Rosenbaum, W. Creek Assistant Examiners-J. E. Harris, N.

J. B. Galetti

Tide waiters-W. H. Blake, D. Mullen, C. M. Cleland, P. H. Martin, J. Landen, W. O. Pegge, E. Lehmann

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