Directory_and_Chronicle_1898 — Page 671

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Ashmore, Mrs.

Ashmore, Mrs. W., Jr. Asverus, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs.

Balmer, Miss (absent) Balmer, Miss M.

Bixby, Miss, M.D.

Black, Miss

Borchardt, Mrs.

Campbell, Mrs. Carlin, Mrs. Castro, Mrs. Cousland, Mrs. Dawson, Mrs.

SWATOW-CANTON

LADIES' DIRECTORY

Ede, Mrs.

Falconer, Miss

Focken, Mrs. Focken, Miss

Focken, Miss M.

Foster, Mrs. Gibson, Mrs.

Gibson, Miss

Glassey, Mrs. Haesloop, Mrs. Harkness, Miss Kemp, Mrs. Layng, Mrs.

Lyall, Mrs. (absent)

McIver, Mrs.

Mackenzie, Mrs. M. (abt.) Mekibban, Mr. Monro, Mrs. Ricketts, Miss Riddel, Mrs. St. John, Miss Scott, Mrs., M.D. Scott, Miss Spiecher, Mrs. Streich, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Tipp, Mrs.

CANTON

Canton is situated on the Chu-kiang or Pearl River, in latitude 23 deg. 7 min. 10 sec. N., and longitude 113 deg. 14 min. 30 sec. E., and is the capital of the province of Kwangtung. It is sometimes called the City of Rams and the City of Genii, both of which names are derived from ancient legends. Canton is a foreign perversion of Kwangtung, its real name. One of the "rst cities in the Chinese Empire, it is also the seat of government for the province, an, is the residence of the Viceroy of “The Two Kwang" (Kwangtung and Kwangsi). The Governor of Kwangtung and the Tartar General are likewise resident here, besides a number of other government officials of more or less distinetion, including the Haikwan, or Superintendent of Customs, a post always held by a Manchu.

Owing to its favoured situation, Canton became at an early date the Chinese port to which the traffic of European countries was first attracted. The Portuguese found their way thither in 1516, and Arab navigators had been making regular voyages between Can- ton and the ports of Western Asia as early as the tenth century. The Dutch appeared on the scene about a hundred years later than the Portuguese, and these in their turn were supplanted by the English. The latter, towards the close of the seventeenth century, founded the very profitable trade which was conducted for nearly one hundred and fifty years by the Agents of the East India Company, who established a Factory there in 1684, which was afterwards celebrated throughout the world. From 1684 the export of tea to England increased rapidly. The Company's monopoly terminated in 1834. In 1839 Great Britain was led to a declaration of war with China in consequence of the oppression to which foreigners were subjected by the native, thorities, and Canton was menaced with capture in 1841. A pecuniary ransom was, however, received in lieu of the occupation of the city, and hostilities were for the time being suspended. The lesson, unfortunately, was without eflect, and the arrogance of the Chinese authorities continued unabated. The British campaign in Central China ensued, and the result was the signature of the Treaty of Nanking (August 29th, 1842), by which what was called the Co-Hong monopoly at Canton was abolished and four additional ports thrown open to foreign trade. Nevertheless, the provisions of the Treaty continued to te ignored in the City of Rams, and foreigners were still denied admittance within ius walls. The result of protracted annoyances and insults was that in October, 1856, Sir Michael Seymour, with the fleet, again opened hostilities, and some two months later a mon in retaliation pillaged and burned all the foreign residences. In December, 1857, Sir Charles Straubenzee, in command of an expedition which had been specially despatched from England, attacked the city, and it was taken on the 29th of that month.

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